Technology

Equestrian compression clothing – a solution supporting our body or a “marketing gimmick”

Posted on by Mequicine

Compression clothing – a solution supporting our body or a “marketing gimmick”

  • What is compression anyway?
  • Compression riding clothing? Yes of course!
  • How does compression work in sports?
  • How can compression help in horse riding?
  • Do horse riders feel the benefits?

Compression clothing from the point of view of physiotherapists and doctors.

Although the word “compression” appears in the descriptions of sportswear for quite some time, many of us still do not know what it is – whether it actually affects the body, health of the athlete or is it just a fashionable marketing gimmick.

Together with our physiotherapist, we will try to present you all the important aspects related to this topic.

What is compression anyway?

Compression, simply put, is external and controlled pressure on selected parts of the body in order to improve blood and lymph circulation on stiffen selected parts of muscles and joints. The effect of compression has long been recognized in medicine as a very good way to support the treatment of lower limb problems related to, for example, coagulability, circulation, varicose veins, supporting the recovery processes in people after accidents and injuries.

With the development of sports medicine, it was noticed that the athlete’s body undergoes similar processes as in the bodies of sick people – large overloads, overlapping micro-injuries, injuries and overtraining. The specialists came to the conclusion that since the processes occurring in the bodies of patients and athletes are similar the same proven solution can be used. This is how compression solutions moved from the world of medicine to the world of sport and, looking after the research, fits in it perfectly. Various types of compression – full, zonal – are willingly used in the clothing of professional athletes as well as in those aimed at amateurs.

How does compression work in sports?

Compression is researched to improve performance and recovery.

This is largely due to the fact that proper pressure, similarly to massage, improves blood flow, and thus oxygenates and nourishes the muscles better. Oxygenated and nourished muscle is more efficient, gets tired less and is less prone to injuries. In addition, compression supports lymph circulation, which removes bad substances that arise as a side effect of exercise. Smooth removal of toxins prevents their storage in our body and thus supports the regeneration of the body and helps to keep it in good condition.

Compression riding clothing? Yes of course!

Each of us riders knows how demanding horse riding is. How much our body has to endure. How many times have you felt pain in your muscles or spine after training? That is why compression is an ideal solution for us, because it will not only support the efficiency of our muscles during the training itself, protect them against injuries, but also facilitate control over them by additional stiffening of the appropriate, sensitive areas of our body, e.g. knees, back, waist belt.

How can compression, apart from strictly medical action, help in horse riding?

Well-applied compression in clothing allows you to reduce pain during and after the ride. Thanks to the reduction of pain sensations, we can better focus on cooperation with the horse. Our body, thanks to better blood flow, will be more relaxed, and the signals given to the horse will be more accurate and precise. Improved cooperation between the rider and the horse reading affects the results obtained during training and competition.

Do horse riders feel the benefits?

OF COURSE! To determine if riders felt the benefits of compression, we conducted biomechanical studies and in-depth questionnaire studies of riders’ perceptions of fatigue, muscle soreness and feelings of increased performance. Biomechanical comparison studies of standard equestrian clothing and Mequicine compression garments showed improvements in physiological markers of post-exercise recovery, such as reduced post-exercise edema and increased blood lactate removal, while riders also reported improvements in subjective measures such as reduced muscle soreness and fatigue.

So is it worth riding in specialized compression clothing? If you want to strengthen your body, it is better to oxygenate and nourish your muscles definitely yes

Let us know if you have had any experience with compression? Or maybe you have an additional question about this solution? E-mail us or comment - we are at your disposal !
Riders problem

Knee pain in horse riding

Posted on by Mequicine
Why do my knees hurt after horse riding?

Knee pain in horse riding

Almost every rider while practicing this sport has struggled with some kind of pain. It could have been caused by a fall, a kick, or our muscles just couldn’t handle it anymore.

Today’s topic will be knee pain while riding a horse.

Question asked in this article

Does horseback riding cause knee pain?

How does horseback riding affect your knee?

Does my riding gear cause knee pain?

Does horseback riding cause knee pain?

Unfortunately yes. What causes this situation and how to prevent it? Read what our physiotherapist advises..

If you haven’t had any knee injuries before, this pain is most probably caused by the stiffness created by the specific body position in the saddle – a combination of lower body position – lower back, hips, thighs, ankles and feet. However, there are a few things you can change to prevent knee pain while riding.

Knee pain while riding a horse is not usually intense, but most often recurring from time to time. Remember that if you feel pain all the time, you need to see a physiotherapist, who may refer you to an orthopedist.

How does horseback riding affect your knee?

Contrary to appearances, knee pain is affected not only by the knee space, but according to research, every muscle involved in horse riding – from the spinal muscles, through the muscles of the hip girdle, through the knees themselves, to the calves.

Problem -Lower back

Rising trot or galloping for a continuous amount of strokes can affect the lower back and lead to increased compression and strain on the lower back tissue.

Pressure from muscle strain or direct impacts can even lead to narrowing of the spinal canal over time. Symptoms of lower back compression include pain that can sometimes extend to the buttocks, and this leads to tension in the iliotibial band that is tied at the knee.

Pain in this area was reported by many of our testers, so during biomechanical research we checked what we could do about it.

A good way to avoid straining your lower back is to make sure you have good core strength and can maintain a neutral lumbar spine position.

 

Solution from Mequicine

Supporting the right position by engaging the muscles of the lower back and abdominal is used in MEQUICINE POSTURE SUPPORTING LONGSLEEVE – check here what functions this garment offers .The wide belt used in ZONE COMPRESSION LEGGINGS also support this area- check what technologies can be found in leggings here.

Problem – Hips

The main points of contact between a skilled rider and the saddle are the thighs, hips and buttocks. In less experienced riders, we often encounter an attempt to hold the horse by clenching the knees – however, this is not a desirable position, which only causes the whole body to tighten and increased tension not only in the knees, but also in the whole body.

Unfortunately, increased riding frequency or poor form can strain the knee ligaments and/or hip adductor muscles.

The problem with constantly squeezing the thighs around the horse is that these muscles can become strained. While the adductor muscles become strong and well developed, the abductor muscles remain unsupported and unstrengthened.

This creates an imbalance not only in the form of the ride, but also in the way the rider walks and stands when not on the horse.

Solution from Mequicine

We support  this part of the rider’s body by introducing zonal compression. We used it both in ZONE COMPRESSION LEGGINGS and in ZONE COMPRESSION BREECHES. The breeches are additionally reinforced by the compression seams – discover the technologies here.

Problem – Knee

One of the common causes of knee pain is inflammation in this joint. Ice packs or compression in or around the joint are a good solution.

Solution from Mequicine

A solution from Mequicine – check out our bottom garment – breeches and leggings!

Does my riding gear cause knee pain?

Equipment

Equestrian equipment plays a huge role in your riding position. An not-fitting saddle, unsuitable stirrups or an badly matched half pad – all this affects your position.

Saddle

When saddle is too low in the front it will pinch into the horse’s shoulder – which is very restrictive for your horse. When your saddle is too high in the back you will lift your leg and fall into a chair seat to balance which can strain the discs in your lower back.

Riding Clothes

An improperly fitted outfit can cause a lot of discomfort while riding. Then we change the position and look for comfort in the saddle, which causes us to take the wrong position.

Mequicine conducted comfort studies to prevent pain.

Did you know that something as simple as a knee stitch can cause knee pain? When the leg muscles are tense and the suture presses against the knee, the kneecap can press against the previously mentioned band and cause pain.

Better to prevent than to cure!

Try to check your equipment, both the one you put on your horse and your outfit. Also remember to visit a physiotherapist and stretch regularly! It is also worth getting off the horse during the last walk and taking a walk with it in hand. This changes our position and relaxes the muscles right after exercise.

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