Could simply wearing infrared clothing really help boost your injury recovery, prevention and athletic performance?
We have a passion for discovering how sports injury and performance methods used at the highest levels of professional sport can distill benefits to sport participants at all levels.
So we were intrigued when we came across Tim Brownestone – photobiologist, former athlete and founder of Kymira – who has developed a range of infrared emitting clothing used by elite sports teams and Olympic athletes.
Infrared clothing activewear is gaining popularity with both professional and amateur sports participants, for its innovative approach to improving performance and sports injury management. But what exactly is infrared clothing, why should you consider it as part of your workout gear and how is Kymira leading the way?
Infrared clothing is growing in popularity. It converts body heat into infrared light energy and reflects it back to the body. It provides a passive alternative to LED infrared therapy devices, which is safe to use for prolonged periods, when active and resting.
Research studies have observed numerous biological and physiological effects from the application of infrared light. Some small human trials have shown a range of real-world benefits for athletes, and some haven't, calling for larger scale trials.
Infrared clothing is considered very safe, enabling athletes to explore the potential benefits for themselves, as a complimentary therapy, risk-free. Benefits can include enhanced performance and recovery, injury recovery and reduced fatigue and injury risk.
KYMIRA is a leading brand in infrared clothing for athletes, utilising patented cutting-edge technology. Its products are championed by participants at all levels of sport, including England Rugby, EPL, Olympic athletes and 'weekend warriors'.
Get a 10% discount on all KYMIRA infrared clothing!
KYMIRA garments are researched and developed in the UK, medical device certified, antimicrobial, super durable & comfy, thermoregulate and SPF 35 rated.
Whilst infrared therapy is widely regarded as safe, athletes should consult their medical professional or sports therapist before incorporating infrared therapy into their routines, especially when dealing with injuries or medical conditions.
We may receive a referral commission from our carefully selected partner brands we link to but always strive to provide fair and evidence-based discussion around any products we feature. This helps support our work and passion in bringing you free injury insights from the world of elite sport.
Infrared clothing and sportswear is a type of garment infused with bioactive materials that naturally emit infrared energy, predominantly in the far-infrared (FIR) energy. FIR is a type of light on the electromagnetic spectrum that is invisible to the human eye but can penetrate the skin and provide therapeutic benefits.
These garments, also known as far infrared clothing, are designed to convert the wearer’s body heat into infrared energy, promoting a range of health and performance benefits. Unlike infrared LED light therapy devices, infrared clothing provides a passive, lower power therapy option, making it safe for prolonged use during both activity and rest.
Infrared base layer clothing can also incorporate additional features such as compression, moisture-wicking and SPF protection.
body heat & light
energy from the
environment
absorbed energy
to infrared light
infrared light back
to the body
This feedback loop creates a warming effect at the cellular level, stimulating the body’s natural processes, promoting increased circulation and cellular activity.
Research studies have observed numerous biological and physiological effects from the application of infrared light.
Observed biological effects include:
Observed physiological effects include:
Together, these effects can lead to numerous physical benefits for the recipient.
In recent years, significant advances have been made in understanding the biological and physiological effects of infrared light therapy. There still remains much to be fully understood, including the full extent of tangible physical benefits to athletes.
A number of individual human trials have reported a range of observed benefits, providing tantalising glimmers of promise. Other studies have found no significant physical benefits. A key issue with the trials is that they tend to have small sample sizes and lack comparable application and measurement data, complicating the generalisation of findings.
Despite these limitations, infrared therapy has been gaining popularity. So what are the benefits that have been observed with studies and users?
Potential benefits of infrared clothing for athletes include:
Increased muscle priming. Increased flexibility.
Infrared clothing helps keep muscles warm and improves blood flow, making them more flexible and ready for movement. This priming of the muscles helps reduce the likelihood of soft tissue injuries during physical activity.
Reduced fatigue. Increased endurance. Increased recovery.
Increased capillarisation and nitric oxide production in muscles can enhance an athlete's capacity to perform at peak levels for longer periods.
Capillarisation refers to the process of increasing the number and density of capillaries - the smallest blood vessels in the body - within a tissue, which improves the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.
At the same time, it facilitates the removal of waste products like carbon dioxide and lactic acid, supporting both in-game and post-game recovery, which can enhance endurance and recovery.
Reduced muscle soreness. Reduced fatigue. Reduced recovery time.
Vasodilation (the widening of blood vessels) increases blood flow to the affected muscles, delivering more oxygen and nutrients essential for tissue repair. It also flushes out metabolic waste products, like carbon dioxide and lactic acid, that contribute to muscle soreness.
This enhanced circulation can support faster recovery and reduce the severity of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), allowing athletes to return to training sooner with less discomfort.
Reduced inflammation. Increased tissue repair.
Nitric oxide plays a critical role in reducing inflammation and improving blood flow. By decreasing inflammation in the affected area, infrared clothing can alleviate pain and swelling, helping individuals regain mobility and comfort during the rehabilitation process.
Enhanced blood flow supports cellular repair and accelerates the healing of damaged tissue.
Together, these processes offer the potential to reduce soft tissue injury recovery times.
Amongst the top brands in infrared apparel, Kymira Sport stands out for its innovative technology and commitment to enhancing athletic performance.
Kymira was born out of founder Tim Brownestone’s frustration with his own sports injury, as an athlete competing up to international level. Searching for ways to accelerate his injury recovery, Tim explored research into the stimulation of human biological processes with infrared light.
This led Tim to experimenting with blending infrared emitting materials with activewear and, over five years and six patents, the development of the Kymira Sport range of infrared clothing.
Here’s a few reasons why Kymira is a trusted name in the world of infrared clothing:
Get a 10% discount on all KYMIRA infrared clothing!
KYMIRA garments are developed in the UK, medical device certified, antimicrobial, super durable & comfy, thermoregulate and SPF 35 rated.
With health and wellness products, what the science says about how effective they are under clinical conditions is only part of the story. Ultimately, what’s most important is how it makes the individual feel when using it under their own real-life conditions. So we’ve pulled together a selection of reviews from Kymira customers and professional athlete case studies.
The England RFU first rolled out Kymira Sport products for the elite men’s rugby team in time for the 2018 Six Nations.
” We saw a dramatic decrease in soft tissue injuries in camp almost immediately. We’d normally expect to see around four over the course of a Six Nations campaign and instead only had one. The performance benefits also came as a surprise.
” Recovery is paramount and the science behind the KYMIRA garments just made sense to give us that addition over just compression.
” The backs were still hitting PBs six weeks into camp, which is unheard of, and players were commenting how much more comfortable it was than compression wear, which can feel restrictive. There is nothing else in the mainstream like it. “
“It helped me to recover and start to be active after my knee injured and also i feel less pain in my other knee where i have a longstanding injury. It helps me in stretching and be more flexible as well. I truly recommend it for safety, comfort, recovery and pain management, it works brilliantly for me.”
Beata K.
“These bad boys really work! I love waking up in the morning feeling like my legs can take on ANYTHING. The comfiest leggings I own, super sexy and make me feel like a rockstar! Some girls get their power from false eyelashes, for me its infrared pants!”
Hannah E.
“I bought the leggings and calf guards as I’m about to run in a 50mile race and I’ve got a few niggles, my main concern is a touch of shin splints. Since wearing them I’ve been amazed at how my legs feel so much better, to be honest I wasn’t expecting too much as I’ve tried other things with not much success but these leggings are just great.”
Jill T.
“I wear the IR50 top when playing golf. It has helped massively to reduce the back ache I sometimes get towards the end of a round. Wouldn’t play without it now!”
Nigel H.
“I wear this during every run and it has helped me reach a new PB. My muscles feel better after running and training. I am an advanced badminton player and wear immediately after for muscle recovery!”
Daniel I.
“I have been using the KYMIRA Men’s Pro Top, Short sleeve for 4 months, and now won’t wear any other brand. When I run in the rain, the shirt dries while I am running, using the excess heat from my body to keep me dry and feeling warm. When running in the sun it manages to dissipate just the right amount of heat to keep me feeling fresh. You don’t see any sweat build up and the fabric stays dry. Finally this is the most durable shirt that I own, after 4 months of use, washing every other day it looks as though it was new.”
Cairyl
“Introduced to Kymira by my physio (who told me, ‘I don’t usually recommend stuff, but their kit works!’). Really accelerated my recovery from hockey induced calf injury at Christmas – then worn them skiing at New Year (bliss!) and now they are the first thing in my match kit bag.”
Roderick C.
“As a cyclist and runner I suffer from tight calves and was willing to give anything a go to help with the constant stretching and rolling. These socks are great and have definitely eased my recovery time. Also great now it’s Autumn and getting chilly!”
Jon B.
“I’ve now bought 4 pairs of these socks as I do a lot of walking/hiking. They work perfectly for me. Excellent support, very comfortable, good temperature control, cushion my feet in both my hiking boots and walking shoes and no tired legs after my walk. I’ve also worn them when travelling by air to avoid getting puffy ankles which have previously plagued me on long journeys.”
Janet B.
We’d also love to hear the thoughts of any of you who have used Kymira infrared clothing, so get in touch with your feedback!
Selecting the best infrared clothing for your needs involves understanding its purpose, the quality of the technology used, and its overall suitability for your activities. Here are some key factors to consider:
Whilst many products on Google, social and marketplaces like Amazon may be marketed as infrared clothing, we struggled to find many genuine bio-responsive products that are made with the specialist minerals and ceramics that convert the body’s heat into infrared energy.
The surest way to purchase a genuine product is to buy direct from a reputable brand like Kymira.
We love what founder Tim Brownstone has created with Kymira, and his passion for pioneering new advances that will make a real difference. So we’ve teamed up with him to offer a great discount to help you start (or continue) your journey with infrared clothing.
Use the button to visit the Kymira website and your discount will be automatically applied at the checkout.
Get a 10% discount on all Kymira infrared clothing products. Visit the Kymira website and enter the discount code PREM-INJ-10 at the checkout.
Use the link below to visit the Kymira website and your discount will be automatically applied at the checkout (if it doesn’t work, let us know and we’ll do what we can to help you get your discount).
Infrared clothing is more than just a trend; it’s a science-backed innovation that has the potential to enhance athletic performance and recovery, and reduce the risk of soft tissue injury. Whilst there is strong research for the numerous biological effects of infrared light energy, clinical evidence for tangible physical benefits in athletes is mixed, with calls for larger scale human trials with comparable data to enable systematic analysis.
Despite these limitations, a wave of optimism has grown. Red and infrared light therapy has gained popularity, and anecdotal evidence of benefits for users, from amateur fitness to elite sports, who now swear by it. The low power energy emitted by infrared clothing (compared to LED devices) means athletes can safely try it as a complimentary therapy to their existing routine, risk-free, and see what benefits they experience.
Our initial interest in this innovative technology was sparked by conversations with Kymira founder, Tim Brownstone, who clearly has a passion for developing bio-solutions that can make a real difference to people’s lives. In fact, Tim is also working on ground-breaking bio-mechanical garments with the aim of predicting a heart attack up to 48 hours before it occurs!
Beyond the infrared tech, Kymira Sport garments are premium activewear in their own right. Many customers comment on the exceptional quality and comfort of the clothing, with an expected lifespan at least twice that of the average for sportswear.
Are you ready to upgrade your workout gear?
Get a 10% discount on all KYMIRA infrared clothing!
KYMIRA garments are developed in the UK, medical device certified, antimicrobial, super durable & comfy, thermoregulate and SPF 35 rated.
Far-infrared radiation and its therapeutic parameters: A superior alternative for future regenerative medicine? (2024).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661824002949
Preliminary Assessment of the Acute Effects of Far Infrared-Emitting Garments: What Are the Possible Implications for Recovery and Performance? (2023).
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/10/1998
Physical properties and biological effects of ceramic materials emitting infrared radiation for pain, muscular activity, and musculoskeletal conditions. (2022).
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/phpp.12799
Utilisation of far infrared-emitting garments for optimising performance and recovery in sport: Real potential or new fad? A systematic review. (2021).
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8101933/
Apparel with Far Infrared Radiation for Decreasing an Athlete’s Oxygen Consumption during Submaximal Exercise. (2015).
https://celliant.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Apparel-with-Far-Infrared_web.pdf
Effect of Shirts with 42% Celliant™ Fiber on tcPO2 Levels and Grip Strength in Healthy Subjects: A Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial. (2019).
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353848848_Effect_of_Shirts_with_42_Celliant_Fiber_on_tcPO2_Levels_and_Grip_Strength_in_Healthy_Subjects_A_Placebo-controlled_Clinical_Trial
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Effects of Far-Infrared Emitting Ceramic Fabric Shirts and Control Polyester Shirts on Transcutaneous PO2. (2018).
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6205518/
Effects of far infrared rays emitting clothing on recovery after an intense plyometric exercise bout applied to elite soccer players: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. (2016).
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4993144/
Kymira Clnical Trials
https://pro.kymirasport.com/clinical-trials/
