Final answer:
Compression garments may help decrease swelling after exercise, but do not significantly improve short-duration exercise performance, increase VO2 max, or reduce running wind resistance. The decrease in drag is evident in water-based sports with specialized body suits, not in typical compression garments. Rest and recovery are vital to prevent muscle-related injuries and conditions like DOMS.
Step-by-step explanation:
Current evidence regarding the effects of compression garments indicates that they may decrease swelling following exercise-induced muscle soreness. Wearing these garments can exert beneficial compression forces on the body, which are believed to help decrease the overall swelling and facilitate recovery. However, they do not significantly improve performance in short-duration high-intensity exercise, increase VO2 max, or reduce wind resistance during running according to current studies.
Body suits like the LZR Racer Suit have been observed to provide at least 10% less drag in water due to smoother "skin" and more compression, which is a different context compared to the effects of compression garments over land-based exercises.
It is also important to note that proper warm-up and allowing muscles to rest and recover are essential in preventing muscle strain and tendinitis, and that over-intensive exercise without adequate rest can lead to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).