#LEG COMPRESSION SLEEVES TRIAL#

Wearing compression garments during running exercise was associated with improvements in muscle oxygenation during intermittent high intensity running (Sear et al., 2010), leg volume (Bovenschen et al., 2013), muscle damage using magnetic resonance imaging and histochemical techniques (Valle et al., 2013), delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS, see Duffield and Portus, 2007), and heart rate (Varela-Sanz et al., 2011). Similar to the literature specific to post-exercise recovery, various outcomes have been reported, with no or small beneficial effects in physiological, psychological, or biomechanical parameters (Engel et al., 2016).

Overall, it has been largely demonstrated that compression garments improve perfusion and increase local muscle oxygenation at rest (Bochmann et al., 2005 Bringard et al., 2006), so that many of its expected ergogenic effects are dependent on the subsequent compensation of local oxygen deficit contracted during exercise and fastening of energy stocks reconstitution (Di Prampero et al., 1983).ĭuring the last decade, wearing compression garments during exercise has also become increasingly popular in sports such as running and cycling. Compression garments are also used in healthy populations for post-exercise recovery purposes, although there is no definitive consensus about their effects (MacRae et al., 2011 Born et al., 2013 Hill et al., 2014).

The extrinsic mechanical pressure they provide to the underlying soft tissues increases cutaneous and subcutaneous interstitial pressure, thereby reducing peripheral blood pooling, leg swelling, and improving venous return (Partsch et al., 2008). However, wearing compression sleeves did not affect performance and exercise-induced DOMS, while it minimized Achilles tendon pain immediately after running.Ĭompression garments are widely used in the treatment or prevention of clinical, occupational, and travel-related ailments for their beneficial effect on venous hemodynamics.

#LEG COMPRESSION SLEEVES TRIAL#

However, Achilles tendon pain was significantly lower after the trial in CS than CON ( p < 0.05).ĭiscussion: Calf compression did not modify muscle oxygenation during ~2 h 30 of trail running but significantly changed running biomechanics and lower limb muscle functional capabilities toward a more dynamic behavior compared to control session. Methods: Fourteen healthy trained males took part in a randomized, cross-over study consisting in two identical 24-km trail running sessions (each including one bout of running at constant rate on moderately flat terrain, and one period of all-out running on hilly terrain) wearing either degressive CS (23 ± 2 mmHg) or control sleeves (CON, 6 on a 10-cm scale) with no difference between conditions. Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine whether calf compression sleeves (CS) affects physiological and biomechanical parameters, exercise performance, and perceived sensations of muscle fatigue, pain and soreness during prolonged (~2 h 30 min) outdoor trail running.

Leg compression sleeves