Pressure and coverage effects of sporting compression garments on cardiovascular function, thermoregulatory function, and exercise performance

Abstract

Sporting compression garments (CG) are used widely during exercise despite little evidence of benefits. The purpose of this study was to investigate coverage and pressure effects of full-body CG on cardiovascular and thermoregulatory function at rest and during prolonged exercise, and on exercise performance. Twelve recreationally trained male cyclists [mean (SD) age, 26 (7) years; VO(2 max), 53 (8) mL kg(-1) min(-1)] completed three sessions (counterbalanced order), wearing either correctly-sized CG (CSG; 11-15 mmHg), over-sized CG (OSG; 8-13 mmHg), or gym shorts (CONT). Test sessions were conducted in temperate conditions [24 (1)°C, 60 (4)% relative humidity; ~2 m s(-1) air velocity during exercise], consisting of resting on a chair then on a cycle ergometer, before 60-min fixed-load cycling at ~65% VO(2 max) and a 6-km time trial. Wearing CG (CSG or OSG) did not mitigate cardiovascular strain during mild orthostatic stress at rest (p = 0.20-0.93 for garment effects). During exercise, cardiac output was ~5% higher in the CG conditions (p < 0.05), which appears to be accounted for via non-significant higher end-exercise heart rate (~4-7%, p = 0.30; p = 0.06 for greater heart rate drift in CSG); other cardiovascular variables, including stroke volume, were similar among conditions (p = 0.23-0.91). Covered-skin temperature was higher in CG conditions (p < 0.001) but core (oesophageal) temperature was not (p = 0.79). Time-trial performance (mean power, time taken) was similar with or without CG (p = 0.24-0.44). In conclusion, any demonstrable physiological or psychophysical effects of full-body CG were mild and seemingly reflective more of surface coverage than pressure. No benefit was evident for exercise performance.

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

“…Higher skin temperature under the compression garments but identically increased core temperature was recorded in our study as well as other studies [2, 11, 21, 37]. Faster and greater rise of skin temperature has also been reported under compression garments during a warm-up [25].…”

“…Although lower body compression garments alleviated orthostatic stress after the exercise in orthostatically intolerant athletes [5], no effect on cardiovascular response to orthostatic stress after exercise in normal females was detected in our study, and it has been shown recently that even whole body compression garments do not change cardiovascular function during orthostatic test at rest [21]. By means of near-infrared spectroscopy Agu et al [1] reported an increase in leg muscles oxygenation in patients with venous insufficiency when wearing the compression stockings, while our study has not disclosed any benefits of compression breeches on calf muscle oxygenation in healthy females in response to running training session.…”

“…Although compression garments have been shown to neither affect cardiovascular function during orthostatic test in resting conditions [21] nor change cardiovascular response to orthostatic test during recovery after exercise in syncope-prone athletic individuals [5], the effects of compression garments on central and peripheral hemodynamics (cardiovascular regulation of muscle perfusion systemic blood flow) in healthy subjects in response to exercise have not been well investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lower body compression garments on the cardiovascular function in response to running session in thermoneutral environment.…”

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

“…Considering that sustained external pressure while wearing CG attenuates mechanical stress by reducing muscle oscillation [17], the use of CG during exercise might attenuate increases in muscle damage markers and inflammatory cytokines. Another mechanism underlying effectiveness of wearing CG may be improved venous return, resulting from assisted muscle pump action by the garments [18]. The augmented muscle pump action by wearing CG would be more advantageous when exercise intensity is relatively lower, because muscle pump action is dependent on exercise intensity.…”

“…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.…”