Abstract
Lower body compression (LBC) has been shown as an effective recovery tool from basketball but it is unknown how it affects performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of wearing a LBC garment on anaerobic exercise performance in collegiate basketball players. Healthy Division I collegiate basketball players (n = 12) were recruited for this study. In a crossover, counterbalanced study design, subjects volunteered to participate in two separate visits each with a different condition: wearing a LBC garment or non-compressive control (CON) garment. During each visit, subjects completed 2 × 30 second Wingate Anaerobic Tests (WAnTs) separated by a 5-min active recovery period. Each visit was separated by a 72 h washout period. Results revealed that over the 2 × 30 second WAnTs, mean power output (p = 0.028; d= 0.35), anaerobic capacity (p = 0.018; d = 0.45), and total work (p = 0.027; d = 0.36) were higher when wearing the LBC versus CON garment. However, peak power output (p = 0.319; d = 0.09), anaerobic power (p = 0.263; d = 0.23), and fatigue index (p = 0.749; d = 0.05) were not statistically different. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was significantly lower (p = 0.032; d = 0.72) with LBC compared to CON. Results indicate that LBC may increase anaerobic exercise performance in collegiate basketball players.
Highlights
Many competitive sports involve high intensity anaerobic bouts of exercise that are usually repetitive in nature
Test-to-test and average performance over the two Wingate Anaerobic Tests (WAnTs) are presented in Figures 1 and 2
Average mean power was significantly higher while wearing Lower body compression (LBC) versus CON (CON = 684.5 ± 146.3 watts, LBC = 738.8 ± 155.3 watts; p = 0.028; d = 0.35)
Summary
Many competitive sports involve high intensity anaerobic bouts of exercise that are usually repetitive in nature. Better recovery in between these bouts of exercise may lead to greater performance. Various different methods to enhance recovery and performance during anaerobic exercise have been studied, including passive and active recovery [1,2], ergogenic aids [3], nutritional supplementation [4], and cryotherapy [5]. The use of compression garments, lower body compression (LBC), has gained popularity for use during and after exercise in efforts to aid in recovery [6]. Much of the evidence supporting the use of LBC focuses on post-exercise recovery and combating exercise-induced muscle soreness [7,8,9,10]. Jakeman et al reported that LBC following strenuous exercise preserved knee extensor strength and reduced perceived muscle soreness [8]
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