Efficiency of movement and management of fatigue is important in terms of occupational health and safety as well as workplace productivity. At one end of the spectrum you have occupations such as firefighting and law enforcement where by efficiency of movement and management of fatigue is not only related to work productivity but can also be related to survival. Recent research has reported that when compression shorts are worn during running they were able to reduce the energy cost of the exercise. According to the scientists the shorts appeared to improve circulation and reduce muscle movement so that less energy was required to run. Obviously to a firefighter or police officer the potential benefits of improved efficiency of movement could certainly translate into improved work performance but more importantly improved occupational safety.

However not all jobs are potentially life threatening and in many jobs management of fatigue becomes extremely important in terms of workplace productivity. Positions requiring manual labor can be as demanding on the body as elite level sport. However unlike elite athletes most individuals involved in manual labor are unaware of tools like compression garments that can help them to manage fatigue. At a physiological level continual heavy lifting and performance of intense and physically demanding duties with little or no rest between efforts is no different from other forms of high intensity exercise. As compression garments have been shown to reduce blood lactate concentrations (1) reduce muscle pain (3) and improve movement efficiency (2) during high intensity exercise they certainly have application to occupations involving manual labor.