Lycra jogging tights are a waste of time

THEY are loved by joggers of both sexes, who believe the snug fit boosts their muscles and cuts fatigue.

In reality, however, those clingy Lycra tights may be a waste of time.

A scientific study of the supposedly high-tech compression gear found it does nothing to help an athlete.

The theory that has sold millions of the garments is that they keep muscles firmly in place and stop them vibrating – making them more efficient and the athlete less prone to fatigue.

The compression is also supposed to improve circulation in the same way specialist socks are worn on planes by some passengers to avoid deep vein thrombosis.

But studies of runners revealed that performance is no better with compression tights than with loose-fitting sportswear.

Researcher Ajit Chaudhari, an associate professor of physical therapy at Ohio State University, said: ‘When your muscle vibrates, it induces a contraction that uses energy, so the theory was that less muscle vibration would translate to less fatigue. However, the reduced vibration was not associated with any reduction in fatigue at all.’

But Professor Chaudhari said the garments may have other benefits. ‘There is nothing in this study that shows it’s bad to wear compression tights,’ he added.