Compression clothing has been appearing on the basketball court, in endurance races and now in the weight room. Can this specialized athletic wear enhance your recovery bounce back? A study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise put it to the test after a session of whole body weight training.

Nine subjects with weight room experience performed 10 reps for 3 to 5 sets lifting 70% of one rep max on 9 different exercises. For one workout, they wore compression garments. During a similar session days later, they wore normal gym clothes. Upper body strength significantly improved just 3 to 8 hours after training, but it took lower body muscles more time for strength to recover.

True Strength Moment: It’s worth noting that upper arm and thigh circumference was a lot bigger after training when subjects didn’t wear compression garments. So it could come down to a choice between regaining strength or appreciating the pump.