Development and Evaluation of a Prototype Athletic Girdle

Abstract

Athletic girdles have been developed to support the groin, hamstring, and quadriceps muscle groups, to act as a muscle conditioner, to keep muscles warm and to fight muscle fatigue. Athletes' comfort perceptions and athletic performance were compared using a prototype girdle, a girdle currently being used by the university football team, and a non-girdle. Six male volunteers, all physically trained football coaches, served as test subjects. A Repeated Measures Latin Square Design was used for the eighteen 20-minute test sessions on a Stainnaster vertical climbing machine. Skin temperature, perceived comfort, athletic performance, and pre- and post-exercise muscle circumference measures were the independent variables. Both girdles maintained a higher skin temperature during exercise and cool down than the non-girdle. The prototype was rated more favorably than the other girdle for several of the comfort descriptors. No significant difference in athletic performance between garment treatments was found.

Keywords

functional clothing athletic clothing thermal comfort protective clothing

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