Lower limb compression garments do not influence dynamic and static balance performance in young males

Kenneth S Graham,Nathan J Washington,Kurt Mudie,Kylie A Steel,Peter J Clothier,Clare Macmahon

doi:10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.9n.3p44

Abstract

Background: Some studies show that wearing compression garments (CGs) improves balance performance. However, the overall evidence supporting their use for balance improvement is inconclusive. Objective: This study aimed to further explore the effect of CGs on balance. Method: Using a cross sectional within subjects repeated measures design fourteen participants (27 ± 3 years) completed three trials for each of four balance tests, under three conditions: compression garment, no garment, and sham. Subjective performance and garment rating scores were also collected following each test condition. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed to compare derived variables between conditions for each balance test. Results: No significant differences were found across conditions or tests for either balance performance or subjective measures. Conclusions: This study demonstrated CGs did not influence dynamic or static balance performance in healthy young males. Further, in contrast to other research this study did not demonstrate an effect of compression garments on dynamic or static balance in healthy young males. However, it remains that CGs may provide benefit in other populations including those with balance and movement deficit disorders.

Highlights

The ability to maintain balance is a key element for the execution of motor skills, and postural control, in many populations, including those involved in physical activity (Daneshjoo et al, 2020; Gebel et al, 2018)
No significant main effect was observed between conditions for any of the vertec jump (F = 2.420, p =.109), STAB (F = 3.288, p =.060), hurdle jump (F = 1.435, p =.256), and Single Leg Balance Test (SLB) eyes open (EO) (F = 0.624, p =.487) and SLB eyes closed (EC) (F = 0.915, p =.377GG balance tests used (Table 4)
The findings demonstrated that compression garments (CGs) did not influence dynamic or static balance performance in healthy young males, though participants perceived improved balance stability when wearing the garments

Summary

Introduction

The ability to maintain balance is a key element for the execution of motor skills, and postural control, in many populations, including those involved in physical activity (Daneshjoo et al, 2020; Gebel et al, 2018). Studies have investigated a variety of strategies that target functions of the central nervous system with the aim of improving balance One such strategy is the use of compression garments (CGs), which is elastic based clothing that applies a pressure gradient onto the skin which can be fitted onto an individual covering portions or entirely the upper or lower body (Born et al, 2014; Xiong & Tao, 2018). In contrast to other research this study did not demonstrate an effect of compression garments on dynamic or static balance in healthy young males. It remains that CGs may provide benefit in other populations including those with balance and movement deficit disorders

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion