Physiological Responses of Ionised and Non-ionised Compression Garments to Sprint and Endurance Cycling

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ionised and non-ionised compression tights on physiological and performance variables during short-duration sprint and endurance cycling. METHODS: Using a randomised, blind, crossover design, 10 well-trained athletes (triathletes and cyclists) (means ± standard deviation for age and VO2max of the subjects were: 34.6 ± 6.8 years, 50.86 ± 6.81 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively) performed three power trials (30 s controlled sprint @ 150% pVO2max + 3 min recovery @ 40% pVO2max + 30 s Wingate test) and three endurance trials (30 min at 60% pVO2max + 5 min stationary recovery + 10 km time trial) wearing one of three types of compression tights (ionised, non-ionised, control). Power trials were performed on an electromagnetically-braked cycle ergometer and the endurance trials were completed on a combination of the cycle ergometer and an electromagnetically-braked cycle trainer. Peak power, mean power, rate of fatigue and blood lactate were measured during the power trials and oxygen uptake, heart rate, blood lactate and time trial performance were measured during the endurance trials. RESULTS: There was no significant effect of garment type on key Wingate measures of peak power (grand mean: 1164.44 ± 218.56 W, P = 0.998), mean power (grand mean: 716.45 ± 67.74 W, P = 0.800) or rate of fatigue (grand mean: 66.52 ± 6.88 %, P = 0.106). There was an effect of garment type on blood lactate in the power trials (grand mean: 5.97 ± 3.20 mmol.l-1, P = 0.018). However, post hoc tests were unable to identify where those differences lay. Relative to control, oxygen uptake (grand mean: 34.98 ± 4.66 ml.kg-1.min-1, P = 0.998), heart rate (grand mean: 134 ± 10 b.min-1, P = 0.997), blood lactate (grand mean: 2.11 ± 0.56 mmol.l-1, P = 0.806) and time trial performance (grand mean: 14.77 ± 0.74 min, P = 0.790) were unaffected by either type of compression during endurance cycling. CONCLUSION: Despite widespread use in sport, neither ionised nor non-ionised compression tights have any significant effect on power or endurance cycling.