Does Infrared Training Apparel Improve Performance? Health Power
Every fall, the same question shows up in training group chats and gear forums: does infrared compression actually do anything, or is it just marketing dressed up as science? It's a fair question. Compression gear promises are cheap. Infrared fiber claims are cheaper still.
So we'll skip the pitch and go straight to what was actually measured.
What the Health Power Study Actually Found
Accapi tested Health Power garments on 200 athletes, ages 25 to 50, training three sessions a week for one month. Not a lab simulation — real training blocks, real fatigue, real recovery windows. The measured results:
- +6% maximum power, measured via push/pull strength testing
- +9% faster recovery, measured as increased capacity to sustain high-intensity work
- +11% more endurance, measured via the Cooper Test
Those numbers come from two things working together, not one. Understanding which does what matters if you're deciding whether this is worth adding to a fall training block.
Two Mechanisms, Not One
AEC compression is the more familiar half. It increases capillary blood flow and venous return, which reduces muscle oscillation during movement — less energy wasted stabilizing tissue that's bouncing around, more energy going into the actual work. Over a training block, that shows up as less DOMS and quicker turnaround between sessions.
Infrared fiber is doing something compression alone can't. It's woven into the yarn itself, tuned to a 5–20 micron wavelength that interacts with the body's own thermal emission. The effect is improved circulation and muscle oxygenation — which matters for lactic acid clearance between sets and sessions, and for keeping muscles in an optimal temperature range whether you're training in September heat or a cold gym in November.
Compression manages movement. Infrared fiber manages circulation and temperature. Health Power stacks both into the same seamless dual-layer construction.
The Independent Research Behind the Fiber
Accapi's in-house numbers are useful, but they're not the only data point. A separate study on trail runners, published in Life (Basel) and indexed on PubMed (PMID 37895379), measured bioelectrical impedance in runners wearing FIR fiber garments and found a 6.7% reduction in body resistance and a 5.4% reduction in reactance — both markers associated with improved circulation and fluid distribution during exertion.
The fiber technology itself carries KIFA certification (KFI-588, KFIA-FI-1005 standard) with a measured emissivity of 0.890, and Accapi has been developing and refining it since 2008 — long enough to move from the original 4–14 micron fiber generation to the current 5–20 micron generation used in Health Power today.
Standard Compression vs. Health Power Infrared Compression
| Factor | Standard Compression | Health Power (Infrared + AEC) |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle stabilization | Yes | Yes |
| Reduced venous fatigue | Yes | Yes |
| Circulation / oxygenation boost | No | Yes — infrared fiber effect |
| Active thermoregulation | No | Yes — hot and cold conditions |
| Lactic acid dissipation support | Indirect | Direct — circulation-driven |
| Measured performance data | Varies by brand | +6% power / +9% recovery / +11% endurance |
Where This Fits in a Fall Training Block
Fall is when a lot of training volume ramps back up after summer's looser schedule — more sessions per week, less forgiving recovery windows. That's exactly the stretch where the recovery half of these numbers (+9%, +11%) tends to matter more than the power number. Wearing infrared compression during the session addresses circulation and muscle stabilization while you train; pairing it with infrared recovery socks after extends the effect into the recovery window itself.
Want the fiber science in more depth first? Read how infrared fiber technology actually works, or see how it's tested for KIFA certification.
FAQ
Does infrared compression apparel really improve performance, or is that just marketing?
The +6% power, +9% recovery, and +11% endurance figures come from a controlled study of 200 athletes training three sessions weekly for one month, measured via strength testing and the Cooper Test — not self-reported results.
What's the difference between AEC compression and infrared fiber?
AEC compression is a fabric-tension technology that supports muscles and reduces oscillation during movement. Infrared fiber is woven into the yarn and works through wavelength interaction with the body, improving circulation and oxygenation. Health Power garments use both together.
Do I need to wear Health Power apparel during training, or just after?
The performance and recovery data was measured during active training sessions, so that's when the compression and circulation benefits are most directly engaged. Pairing it with post-workout infrared recovery pieces extends the effect afterward.
What is Health Power made of?
57% Polyester, 38% Polyamide, 5% Elastane, made in Italy with a seamless dual-layer construction for moisture management.
