If high quality sportswear can improve performance in human athletes, then it technically should work for animals as well.
如果高品質(zhì)的運(yùn)動(dòng)服能讓運(yùn)動(dòng)員如虎添翼,那么按理來說這種方法也應(yīng)同樣適用于動(dòng)物。
Testing this theory is UAE-based camel and horse luxury products company Al Shibla. They recently launched a line of lycra-style outfits for camels, and they claim that the bizarre product has already garnered tremendous interest among stable owners in the Middle East.
阿拉伯聯(lián)合酋長(zhǎng)國(guó)一家生產(chǎn)馬和駱駝奢侈用品的公司Al Shibla近日將這種想法付諸實(shí)際,推出了一款為駱駝量身定做的萊卡布(強(qiáng)力彈性纖維)衣服,公司稱這種新奇產(chǎn)品在中東已經(jīng)吸引不少駱駝場(chǎng)主的極大興趣。
Made of soft, thick material that covers the body, the suits improve blood circulation by slightly constricting blood vessels. Worn before and after training, it increases blood and oxygen supply to the muscles, reducing the lactic acid build-up that causes cramping. The animal is covered entirely, except for the head and neck.
這種能包裹住全身衣服的面料既柔軟又厚實(shí),對(duì)血管的輕度壓縮可促進(jìn)血液循環(huán)。因此,在訓(xùn)練之前或之后穿上,可提高肌肉的血液和氧氣供給量,從而減少會(huì)導(dǎo)致抽筋的乳酸含量。這款衣服除脖子和頭部會(huì)覆蓋全身。
Designed for use before and after races, the special leotards are meant to serve a dual purpose. “The full body suit can help racing camels run faster, while the cream of the species entered into camel beauty contests will have the ability to stand taller after using the suit,” the company wrote in their sales pitch.
這款設(shè)計(jì)為賽前和賽后穿著的特制緊身服具有雙重功能。“在賽跑時(shí)覆蓋全身的衣物有助于跑得更快,在選美比賽時(shí)又會(huì)讓駱駝變得更高。”公司在產(chǎn)品簡(jiǎn)介中這么寫道。
The suits can also be used during transportation, when camels tend to lose a lot of weight due to stress hormones working overtime.
這件衣服還可讓駱駝在運(yùn)輸?shù)男谐讨写┥希捎趬毫に刈饔脮r(shí)間過長(zhǎng),駱駝在運(yùn)輸過程中會(huì)減少很多體重。
“We can compare it with the compression socks we get in the hospital. It activates the blood circulation in the muscle,” Wolter added. “If there’s a health problem, people usually just call the vet and ask for an injection, but there are physiotherapy treatments, and the compression suit is a physiotherapy treatment.”
“我們可以將其與醫(yī)院的緊身襪做比較,緊身襪能促進(jìn)肌肉的血液循環(huán),”沃爾特補(bǔ)充道,“如果動(dòng)物有健康問題,人們通常求助于獸醫(yī)并要求注射藥物,但除此之外還有物理療法,而緊身衣就是一種物理療法。”
The company launched the full body compression suit at the Al Dhafra Camel Festival in December, after months of designing the product to perfection. It was especially difficult to make a suit for camels, because unlike horses, they rest on folded knees with their breasts rubbing against the ground. So they had to use extra thick durable material for those parts. The suits aren’t ready-made, but will be tailored to fit each individual animal.
2014年12月,經(jīng)過數(shù)月盡善盡美的設(shè)計(jì)后,該公司在阿聯(lián)酋駱駝節(jié)當(dāng)天發(fā)布了這款全身緊身衣。為駱駝制作衣服的難度非常大,因?yàn)轳橊労婉R不同,當(dāng)它們彎下膝蓋休息時(shí),乳房會(huì)與地面摩擦,所以他們不得不在這些部位上使用更耐磨的厚布料。此外,這些衣服并非現(xiàn)成,而是會(huì)根據(jù)不同駱駝的體型做出調(diào)整。
The suits are quite expensive at Dhs 3,500 (almost $1,000) apiece, but Wolter says they are worth the price. “If you ship a camel from the UAE to Saudi or Qatar, it can lose 15kg to 30kg because of stress,” she explained. “Our research and testing has shown that we can get that down to about 7.5kg to 10kg by wearing our outfits. In addition to that, the outfit is like a thrombosis sock. It squeezes the muscle and ensures circulation.”
這款緊身衣單價(jià)高達(dá)3500迪拉姆(約合5900元人民幣),但沃爾特表示物有所值。“如果你將一只駱駝從阿聯(lián)酋運(yùn)到沙特或卡塔爾,它會(huì)因心理壓力而減少15至30公斤的體重,”她解釋道,“我們的研究和測(cè)驗(yàn)已經(jīng)表明這款衣服可以將這個(gè)范圍縮小至7.5至10公斤??傊@款衣服就像一只抗血栓襪,能擠壓肌肉并確保血液循環(huán)。”
Vocabulary
lycra: 萊卡
lactic acid: 乳酸
physiotherapy: 物理療法
compression suit: 緊身衣
ready-made: 現(xiàn)成的
thrombosis: 血栓癥