Hemodynamic Effects of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression on Athletes: A Double-Blinded Randomized Crossover Study.

Abstract

There are multiple postexercise recovery technologies available in the market based on the assumption of blood-flow enhancement. Lower-limb intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) has been widely used, but the available scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness remains scarce, requiring a deeper investigation into its underlying mechanisms. The aim of this study was to assess the hemodynamic effects caused by the use of IPC at rest. Twenty-two soccer and track and field athletes underwent two 15-minute IPC protocols (moderate- [80mm Hg] and high-pressure [200mm Hg]) in a randomized order. Systolic peak velocity, end-diastolic peak velocity, arterial diameter, and heart rate were measured before, during (at the eighth minute), and 2minutes after each IPC protocol. Significant effects were observed between before and during (eighth minute) the IPC protocol for measures of systolic (P < .001) and end-diastolic peak velocities (P < .001), with the greater effects observed during the high-pressure protocol. Moreover, 2minutes after each IPC protocol, hemodynamic variables returned to values close to baseline. Arterial diameter presented significant differences between pressures during the IPC protocols (P < .05), while heart rate remained unaltered. IPC effectively enhances transitory blood flow of athletes, particularly when applying high-pressure protocols.