Anyone watching former LSU standout and current Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese can’t help but notice how she runs the floor and can block shots from almost anywhere. I can’t. But there’s another thing that might catch your eye before the starting clock starts. That means the forward will enter the court wearing compression tights on one leg.
It turns out that the outfit she chose is more than just a fashion statement. It does double duty by giving her the confidence she needs to continue dominating on the floor.
When asked about her signature on-court style before the game Press conference In March, Reese explained that he likes to hide his surgical scars while playing. “She had shin surgery two years ago,” she told reporters about an injury to her tibia during her freshman year. After her surgery, Reese said in an interview, “I completely lost her confidence.” i am an athlete I went on a podcast and wondered if I even wanted to go back to sports. (Thankfully, her surgery was successful and she regained her confidence after returning to the University of Maryland’s starting team.)
This type of surgery involves inserting a rod into the shin bone. Dr. Sean Lockett, a sports medicine doctor at New England Orthopedics who has not treated Reese, tells SELF. This type of surgery requires a several-inch-long incision in the front of the knee near the patella, which can leave a noticeable scar.
However, it’s not just about scars. Reese also wears compression tights on one leg, paying homage to her basketball idols.she said Nola.com She said wearing the garment is a tribute to two players she respects in the sport. thea cooperLos Angeles Sparks guard, and Aja WilsonAce Center in Las Vegas.
Both women are also known for wearing one sleeve, which Reese succinctly summed up as “swag.”
Apart from the specific reasons listed by Rees, compression tights can offer several benefits, not only after an injury, but also for athletes in general. Brent Chuma, CSCSA strength and conditioning specialist who treats injured athletes at Wellness in Motion Boston tells SELF. Compression sleeves work by trapping heat close to the skin, warming tissues and increasing blood flow, “increasing muscle flexibility and range of motion,” Chuma says. Given Reese’s surgical history, her left leg might benefit from a little more help warming up.
Additionally, tight sleeves can provide “a sense of security to the muscles” after surgery or injury, says Dr. Lockett. While this may be subjective, he says it can still be beneficial for athletes. Compression of the muscles and fascia (the thin layer of connective tissue that surrounds the muscles) “improves proprioception, or feedback, about the position of the leg in space,” he says. This is important in sports like basketball, where players frequently jump and land or collide. “Their muscles need to know when to fire to stabilize their knees and ankles,” Dr. Lockett says. Without accurate proprioception, basketball players are more likely to invert their ankles and injure their knees.
