Effect of ceramic-impregnated clothing on a 10 km running performance

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the effects of using bioceramic clothing on the 10 km running performance. Ten healthy young males (age 27.9 ± 4.2 years; height 1.8 ± 0.1 m; body mass 73.0 ± 7.5 kg; body mass index (BMI) 23.5 ± 2.3 kg·m2 and body fat 19.3 ± 4.2 %) volunteered to participate in the study. The participants visited the track for three 10 km performances under different conditions: bioceramic clothes (CER), placebo (PLA) and personal clothes (C). Test order was randomized and subjects were blind to the intervention condition, except for the C. Friedman’s test or ANOVA for repeated measures were used to compare the conditions. Minimal detectable change and Effect Size were also calculated. Results: No statistical differences were found. Minimal detectable change analysis suggested a “Possible” reduction in time for the CER condition (C – 52.3 ± 4.1; PLA – 53.1 ± 5.0; CER 51.4 ± 3.8 minutes). Lactate concentration analysis showed a faster removal when subjects were using bioceramic clothes. DOMS was rated as “Possible” higher in the CER condition, and the Session Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPESession) was also higher in that condition, rated as “Small” through Cohen’s Effect Size analysis (C – 425.7 ± 74.8; PLA – 426.6 ± 87.5; CER – 440.1 ± 42.5 A.U.). Conclusion: Results suggest that the use of bioceramic clothes might improve running performance. Further studies are necessary to determine ideal dosage such as time of use and factors influencing absorption.

Utilisation of far infrared-emitting garments for optimising performance and recovery in sport: Real potential or new fad? A systematic review

“…A total of eleven studies were ultimately identified and included in this review (Table 1). Thereafter, selected studies were classified into two different categories according to their experimental design: six studies investigated the 'effects of FIR-emitting garments worn during exercise' [16,[30][31][32][33][34], and five studies investigated the 'effects of FIR-emitting garments worn post-exercise' [35][36][37][38][39].…”

“…Participants' age ranged from 18 to 57 years. All the studies had samples sizes of five to twenty participants, with only males [30,31,34] or a mixture of female and male participants [16,32,33]. In the studies testing FIR-emitting garments post-exercise, participants were recreationally active [36][37][38] or elite male athletes [35,39], and their age ranged from 19 to 26 years except in one study where the participants were > 60 years old [37].…”

“…Nine of the eleven studies used an acute exercise modality [16,[30][31][32][33][34][35]37,38], and two studies used consecutive bouts of exercise (i.e. two sessions per day separated by 3 to 4 hours over one day to 2 weeks) [36,39].…”

“…feet, thigh, calves or whole leg covered) [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39], in seven studies it was on the upper body (i.e. arm, forearm, trunk or all covered simultaneously) [16,[30][31][32][33][34]36], and in six studies garments covered both the lower and upper body simultaneously [30][31][32][33][34]36]. In studies testing the garments during exercise, the garments were applied on the lower and upper body [30][31][32][33][34] except in one study using only a FIR-emitting t-shirt [16].…”

“…arm, forearm, trunk or all covered simultaneously) [16,[30][31][32][33][34]36], and in six studies garments covered both the lower and upper body simultaneously [30][31][32][33][34]36]. In studies testing the garments during exercise, the garments were applied on the lower and upper body [30][31][32][33][34] except in one study using only a FIR-emitting t-shirt [16]. In contrast, in studies testing the garments post-exercise, only the lower limbs were covered [35,[37][38][39] except in one study using the garments on both the lower and upper body [36].…”