Should you wear tight or loose clothes when playing sports?

Choosing the right sportswear can have a huge impact on your workout performance. And one of the most common questions in this regard is - tight or loose fitting?

Choosing the right clothes will significantly determine your workout performance - Photo: CN

Tight or loose fitting?

From a scientific perspective, both tight and loose clothing have their pros and cons. The choice should be carefully considered according to each sport, individual physical condition, and even the weather.

First of all, compression wear – or more accurately called compression wear – was originally developed for professional athletes, with the purpose of providing muscle support.

Many studies, such as published in the Journal of Sports Sciences (UK, 2016) show that compression garments can help reduce muscle vibration while running or jumping, thereby limiting muscle fatigue and micro-injuries.

In addition, the gentle pressure from the compression fabric also helps improve blood circulation, helping the recovery process take place faster after a workout.

Not only that, tight clothing is often made from highly elastic materials that absorb and release sweat quickly, suitable for high-intensity sports .

Psychologically, many people – especially young people – say that wearing tight clothes helps them feel more confident and “more active”, because their body shape is clearly defined.

However, tight clothing is not always the best choice. In many cases, wearing clothes that are too tight can restrict breathing, put pressure on blood vessels, or make the exerciser feel stuffy, especially if exercising in hot, humid conditions.

For people with high blood pressure, new to exercise, or who are overweight, strong compression garments can be uncomfortable and even dangerous if used incorrectly.

In contrast, loose, breathable sportswear feels more comfortable in many situations.

With disciplines like yoga, qigong, tai chi or gentle physical therapy classes, flexibility in movement is a top priority – something that compression clothing sometimes fails to provide.

Loose clothing is also suitable for beginners, or those who want to avoid feeling "exposed" in public.

However, wearing clothes that are too loose can also be risky. When running, cycling or playing other strenuous sports, loose clothing can get caught in equipment or create wind resistance, affecting performance.

In football or most high-speed competitive sports, loose clothing can lead to many disadvantages. Especially if you choose traditional thick cotton material, loose clothing can easily retain sweat, making the body cold, skin allergies or rashes when practicing for a long time.

Choose the right clothes

According to physical therapist Jessica Matthews (USA), exercisers should prioritize "choosing clothes that are suitable for movement, not too tight but not too loose, the important thing is the elasticity and ventilation of the material".

This view is also similar to guidelines from the American Academy of Sports Medicine (ACSM), which states that clothing choices should be “appropriate to the sport, physical condition, and environmental conditions.”

In fact, each sport has its own movement characteristics, which leads to different clothing needs.

For running and cycling – two sports that involve high-intensity repetitive movements – compression garments are strongly recommended because they help stabilize muscles and reduce shock and friction.

Each sport requires specific costumes - Photo: NT

In cycling, in particular, loose clothing can be dangerous because it can get caught in the chain or hinder aerodynamics. In football, clothing needs to fit well, not too tight to maintain flexibility, but not too loose to avoid shirt-snatching during a fight.

Tennis and badminton require flexible movements, jumping and twisting, so loose-fitting, breathable clothing is a good choice. For yoga or stretching, soft compression clothing can help with posture, but loose clothing is acceptable as long as it doesn’t hinder movement.

Weather and fitness goals cannot be ignored. In hot and humid environments, ultra-light, quick-drying materials are a must, regardless of whether the garment is tight or loose.

For those who are trying to lose weight, tight clothing can help identify areas of excess fat and correct posture; but for those who are trying to relax, loose clothing helps increase comfort and a relaxed spirit.

HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nen-mac-do-bo-hay-rong-khi-choi-the-thao-20250731203029097.htm