Effect of Lower Body Compression Garments on Hemodynamics in Response to Running Session

Abstract

Purpose. Compression garments are often worn during exercise and allegedly have ergogenic and/or physiological effects. In this study, we compared hemodynamics and running performance while wearing compression and loose-fit breeches. We hypothesized that in neutral-warm environment compression breeches impair performance by diminishing body cooling via evaporative sweat loss and redistributing blood from active musculature to skin leading to a larger rise in body temperature and prolonging recovery of hemodynamics after exercise. Methods. Changes in hemodynamics (leg blood flow, heart rate, and blood pressure during orthoclinostatic test), calf muscle tissue oxygenation, and skin and core temperatures were measured in response to 30 min running (simulation of aerobic training session) followed by maximal 400 m sprint (evaluation of running performance) in recreationally active females (25.1 ± 4.2 yrs; 63.0 ± 8.6 kg) wearing compression or loose-fit breeches in randomized fashion. Results. Wearing compression breeches resulted in larger skin temperature rise under the garment during exercise and recovery (by about 1°C, P < 0.05; statistical power > 85%), while core temperature dynamics and other measured parameters including circulation, running performance, and sensations were similar compared to wearing loose-fit breeches (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Compared with loose-fit breeches, compression breeches have neither positive nor negative physiological and performance effects for females running in thermoneutral environment.

The impact of lower body compression garment on left ventricular rotational mechanics in patients with lipedema—Insights from the three‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR‐Path Study

“…Tendentiously higher end‐diastolic and end‐systolic LV volumes were detectable along with an augmentation of LV ejection fraction after 60‐minutes wearing of compression hosieries. The countercurrent change of LV basal and apical rotations with unchanged LV twist in part gives rise to an adaptational mechanism on this lipedema‐related LV volume changes, which may comprise a quasi neutralization of fluid shift caused by lower body compression along stimulating venous return and consequently increasing cardiac preload 27 . As models for fluid load in standard situations normal saline infusion increases end‐diastolic and end‐systolic volumes with a stable ejection fraction which are consistent with rise in preload 28,29 .…”

Is There Evidence that Runners can Benefit from Wearing Compression Clothing?

“…Body core temperature during and after running was affected to small and moderate extents by compression clothing in two studies [20,45], with no effect on body temperature (p = 0.00) (mean g = 0.24 ± 0.21; range 0.00-0.41 [20,45]). Although in one case the perceived temperature during running with compression was not altered (g = 0.00 [25]), Venckūnas and colleagues [42] detected a moderate negative effect on perceived body temperature during 30 min of submaximal running (g = -0.32).…”

“…The overall effect of compression clothing on perceived exertion during running was small but positive (mean g = 0.28 ± 0.38; range -0.31 to 1.21 [1-3, 7, 13, 18-20, 23-26, 42, 44-46]), although certain investigations showed moderate-to-large positive effects [2,23,26,45] and others small-to-moderate negative [19,20] or no effects [7,13,18,24,25,42].…”

A Soft-Inflatable Exosuit for Knee Rehabilitation: Assisting Swing Phase During Walking

“…In this way, the same uniform pressure is applied to the sEMG sensors during both the baseline and active phases of the study, allowing for fair comparison between the sEMG signals. The baseline is performed with the device already donned on the user, as studies indicate that elastic compression sleeves, such as the one used in the exosuit, are designed to increase proprioception of the joint and not to restrict or enhance physical performance (Faulkner et al, 2013, Venckūnas et al, 2014. Following all safety requirements, as described in our IRB agreement, the non-impaired adult participants are instructed to walk on an instrumented treadmill with the sEMG sensors attached to the aforementioned muscle groups.…”