Effects of different levels of compression during sub-maximal and high-intensity exercise on erythrocyte deformability

Abstract

The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis whether different levels of sock compression (0, 10, 20, and 40 mmHg) affect erythrocyte deformability and metabolic parameters during sub-maximal and maximal running. Nine well-trained, male endurance athletes (age 22.2 ± 1.3 years, peak oxygen uptake 57.7 ± 4.5 mL min(-1) kg(-1)) carried out four periods of sub-maximal running at 70% of peak oxygen uptake for 30 min followed by a ramp test until exhaustion with and without compression socks that applied different levels of pressure. Erythrocyte deformability, blood lactate, heart rate and arterial partial pressure of oxygen (pO(2)) were monitored before and during all of these tests. Erythrocyte deformability, heart rate, pO(2) and lactate concentration were unaffected by compression, whereas exercise itself significantly increased erythrocyte deformability. However, the increasing effects of exercise were attenuated when high compression was applied. This first evaluation of the potential effects of increasing levels of compression on erythrocyte deformability and metabolic parameters during (sub-) maximal exercise, revealed no effects whatsoever.

Calf Compression Sleeves Change Biomechanics but Not Performance and Physiological Responses in Trail Running

“…This result is similar to those of previous studies during (Ali et al, 2007; Duffield and Portus, 2007; Sperlich et al, 2011; Wahl et al, 2011; Vercruyssen et al, 2012; Born et al, 2014; Priego Quesada et al, 2015) or after exercise (Duffield et al, 2010; Ménétrier et al, 2011). On the contrary, a beneficial effect of wearing CS was found in muscle oxygenation during all resting situations, including after the test, which was likely due to an increased perfusion and reduced venous pooling in CS, as previously shown (Bochmann et al, 2005; Bringard et al, 2006; Ménétrier et al, 2011).…”

“…Therefore, it is likely that the pressure in the muscular compartment during running exercises performed on various gradients exceeds the pressure exerted by CS, which could blunt its potential beneficial effects. Previous studies have indicated that increasing the mechanical pressure exerted by compression garments to approximately 40 mmHg had no effects during running at submaximal and maximal intensities in laboratory conditions (Wahl et al, 2011) and could even have detrimental effects on blood flow during cycling exercise (Sperlich et al, 2013). However, by the same mechanism, CS could potentially have ergogenic effects during repeated exercise/recovery phases where the recovery rate in muscle oxygenation is beneficial, such as intermittent exercise (Sear et al, 2010), but also possibly for exercise performed on multiple days.…”

“…Positive effects in performance have also been noted in incremental tests (Kemmler et al, 2009; Sear et al, 2010), repeated sprinting (Higgins et al, 2009; Born et al, 2014), and jumping height following submaximal exercise (Rugg and Sternlicht, 2013; Bieuzen et al, 2014) or after a 10 km run (Ali et al, 2011). Conversely, other studies have reported no measurable effect on limb volume (Areces et al, 2015), fractional oxygen utilization (Kemmler et al, 2009; Wahl et al, 2011; Born et al, 2014; Priego Quesada et al, 2015; Stickford et al, 2015), muscle oxygenation or blood flow (Vercruyssen et al, 2012; Born et al, 2014), heart rate or indicators of central cardiovascular adaptations (Ali et al, 2007; Sperlich et al, 2011; Wahl et al, 2011; Vercruyssen et al, 2012; Born et al, 2014; Priego Quesada et al, 2015), lactate or exercise metabolite removal (Kemmler et al, 2009; Ali et al, 2010; Sperlich et al, 2011; Wahl et al, 2011; Vercruyssen et al, 2012; Areces et al, 2015), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) or DOMS (Ali et al, 2007, 2010; Bovenschen et al, 2013; Areces et al, 2015; Priego Quesada et al, 2015), running economy and gait kinematics (Varela-Sanz et al, 2011; Stickford et al, 2015; Vercruyssen et al, 2016), maximal voluntary and evoked contractions (Vercruyssen et al, 2016), as well as performance in repeated sprinting (Duffield et al, 2008), or in running performed at maximal (Ali et al, 2007; Priego Quesada et al, 2015) and at sub-maximal exercise intensities (Ali et al, 2007, 2011; Wahl et al, 2011; Vercruyssen et al, 2012; Priego Quesada et al, 2015). This abundant but heterogeneous literature may underline probable task-dependent ergogenic effects of the compression when used during exercise.…”

Exercise-Induced Blood Lactate Increase Does Not Change Red Blood Cell Deformability in Cyclists

“…In vitro incubation with lactate significantly increases the rigidity of RBC [6], [8]. In contrast, exercise-induced increases of blood lactate concentration ( in vivo ) have not always been associated with a concomitant decrease in RBC deformability [9], despite RBC fragility being reported to increase in tandem with increased lactate concentration [8]. These conflicting results have been interpreted to suggest that there may be a potential training status effect [10], whereby RBC deformability of well-conditioned individuals may paradoxically increase in the presence of lactate.…”

Wearing lower-body compression garment with medium pressure impaired exercise-induced performance decrement during prolonged running

“…In addition, positive effect of wearing CG is suggested to be observed during prolonged exercise with accumulated fatigue [1]. However, most of these previous studies have focused on the effectiveness of wearing CG on cardiovascular and metabolic variables during maximal or intensive endurance exercise lasting less than 60 min [1,3,7,12,13,18–20]. Therefore, little information is available on whether wearing CG during prolonged running (> 60 min) affects exercise-induced changes in muscle damage markers and the inflammatory responses.…”