Compression Garments And Exercise - The Effect Of Three Different Garments On Endurance Capacity

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Compression stockings have become common among endurance athletes in long lasting events such as marathon or ironman triathlon. Several studies examining their effects on exercise as well as recovery indicate a possible performance enhancing influence. Until today the majority of these studies focus on the effects when wearing stockings. Until today no study has investigated the effect on performance and related physiological variables when increasing the amount of compressive area onto the body. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of three different compression garments on endurance performance and related physiological and psychological variables compared to non compressive textiles. METHODS: 14 male well-trained endurance athletes (age: 27,1±4,8 yrs, height: 183,1±7,6 cm, weight: 76,3±7,6 kg, VO2peak: 63,7±4,9 mL·kg·min-1) performed four maximal endurance tests (TLim) on a treadmill under laboratory conditions. On four occasions, all subjects randomly wore textile with different compressive surface: 1. regular non compressive running gear, 2. compression socks, 3. compression tights and 4. whole body compression (tight&top). During each test TLim, lactic acid concentration (LAC), oxygen uptake (VO2), blood gas analysis (BGA), perceived muscle soreness and changes in general perception were measured. RESULTS: Neither time to exhaustion (TLim), nor physiological variables (VO2, LAC, BGA) were changed under compression clothing. These results are supported by the psychological data revealing no statistical differences (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: For the first time the effects of increasing the amount of compressive surface vs non compression on endurance capacity was evaluated. The results of this study revealed no beneficial effects neither on endurance performance nor on performance affecting variables like VO2 or LAC when wearing compressive textile.