What Do Compression Shirts Do?

Compression shirts are a common choice among athletes, but what do they actually do? Beyond the snug fit, they offer benefits like muscle support, improved circulation, and quicker recovery. While we don’t offer compression shirts, the same advantages apply to other compression gear like shorts, sleeves, and tights. Let’s take a closer look.

Compression garments apply gentle, consistent pressure to the body, which helps stabilise muscles and reduce unnecessary movement. This support can lower muscle fatigue and improve control during high-intensity activity.

In a shirt, that support focuses on the upper body. In our compression shorts, tights, and sleeves, the same principle applies to the hips, thighs, calves, and arms, making them ideal for sports involving speed, agility, or explosive movement.

Compression helps promote better blood flow and oxygen delivery to working muscles. Whether you're wearing compression socks on a run or recovery tights after training, the goal is to improve circulation and reduce fatigue.

This makes compression gear especially useful for endurance sports, long training sessions, or workouts with repeated effort, helping athletes maintain energy and reduce early exhaustion.

The benefits of compression continue after exercise. Increased blood flow supports faster removal of waste products like lactic acid, which helps reduce muscle soreness and inflammation.

Athletes often wear compression sleeves or socks during recovery periods or while travelling, to manage swelling and speed up healing after intense activity.

McDavid’s compression collection is built with breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics that keep you cool and dry. Whether you prefer full-leg tights, focused sleeves, or supportive shorts, each product is designed for all-day comfort and consistent performance.

So, what do compression shirts do? They provide muscle support, improve circulation, and help speed up recovery. These same benefits apply across all compression wear.

Even though we don’t offer shirts, our compression shorts, tights, sleeves, and socks are designed to deliver the same performance-enhancing effects. Try them and feel the difference in your next training session.