Twelve hours of a compression sleeve is not enough to improve the muscle recovery of an exercise-damaged upper arm

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a compression sleeve worn for a short-time period (12 h) on the recovery from the symptoms of exercise-induced upper arm muscle damage. Methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted on thirteen healthy young men using a standardized and exercise-induced upper arm muscle damage protocol, and they were immediately placed into two groups: TREATED (n = 7) and CONTROL (n = 6). Isometric elbow flexion strength, upper arm circumference, and muscle soreness measurements were taken before and at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after the damaging exercise, and were used as criteria of exercise-induced muscle damage. Group comparisons were made for each variable using a two-way ANOVA design (2 groups × 5 measurements), and with a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: A significant impairment (P < 0.001) was observed in muscle strength (∼43% and ∼34%, for CONTROL and TREATED groups, respectively, 24 h after exercise), as well as a significant increase (P < 0.001) in upper arm circumference (UAC) and muscle soreness (F 4,55 = 6.49 for UAC and F 4,55 = 6.95 for muscle soreness) among the measurements after exercise for both groups, with no significant differences between them. Conclusions: These results, together with previous findings, suggest that the use of a compression garment for 12 h is not enough to improve the recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in the upper arm, and longer periods of compression may be necessary to achieve positive outcomes. © 2014 Consell Català de l'Esport. Generalitat de Catalunya. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. E-mail address: rafaelpereira@brjb.com.br (R. Pereira). PALABRAS CLAVEDaño muscular; Contracción excéntrica; Manga de compresión; Flexores del codo; Rehabilitación El uso de manga de compresión durante 12 horas no es suficiente para mejorar la recuperación muscular del brazo tras el daño inducido por el ejercicio Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de la manga de compresión usada durante un período de tiempo corto (12 h) en la recuperación de los síntomas de daño muscular inducido por el ejercicio de los músculos del brazo. Métodos: En un estudio aleatorizado controlado, 13 hombres jóvenes sanos realizaron un protocolo de ejercicio estandarizado para inducir daño muscular para los flexores del codo y se dividieron inmediatamente en 2 grupos: tratados (n = 7) y control (n = 6). Se tomaron medidas de la fuerza isométrica de flexión del codo, la circunferencia del brazo (CB) y la percepción del dolor muscular antes y 24, 48, 72 y 96 h después del ejercicio, y se utilizaron como criterios de daño muscular inducido por el ejercicio. Comparaciones entre grupos se hicieron para cada variable con un ANOVA de 2 vías (2 grupos × 5 medidas) y con un nivel de significación de p < 0,05. Resultados: Se observó una reducción significativa (p < 0,001) de la fuerza muscular (∼43% y ∼34% para el grupo control y tratados, respectivamente, 24 h después del ejercicio) y un aumento significativo (p < 0,00...

Effects of Compression Tights on Recovery Parameters after Exercise Induced Muscle Damage: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Study

“…Due to the above-mentioned complexity, the proper comparison of our results with results of the literature is a daunting task. However, simplifying our approach, a comparison with resistance (or power) exercise trials [9, 11, 12, 31–37] that focus on maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and/or jump performance as a study outcome might be productive. In summary, conflicting results were reported, with significant faster recovery from resistance exercise [11, 12, 34–36], or failure to observe relevant effects of compression garment [9, 32–34].…”

“…However, simplifying our approach, a comparison with resistance (or power) exercise trials [9, 11, 12, 31–37] that focus on maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and/or jump performance as a study outcome might be productive. In summary, conflicting results were reported, with significant faster recovery from resistance exercise [11, 12, 34–36], or failure to observe relevant effects of compression garment [9, 32–34]. Even studies with comparable exercise protocols (i.e., 50-100 maximum eccentric elbow flexions), compression garment, and duration of monitoring (72-96 h post) did not report consistent results [9, 12, 31, 35, 36] (The three latter authors observed significant positive effects, while the first two authors did not report differences between compression and control group).…”

“…Further, study outcomes often focus on parameters (e.g., lactate, creatine kinase, [7, 8]) at least suboptimum for validating recovery. Additionally, the minority of trials (<20-25%; e.g., [9–14]) monitor recovery periods >48 h. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the effect of compression tights on relevant parameters of recovery applying a conscientious methodological and biometrical approach. In summary, we hypothesize that performance parameters, perceived physical state, and blood parameters related to EIMD were positively affected during recovery from a single bout of strenuous resistance-type exercise by wearing compression tights.…”

Compression Garments and Recovery from Exercise: A Meta-Analysis

“…Therefore, this cohort could theoretically have included both highperformance athletes that routinely sustained muscle damage from load bearing exercise, as well as recreational exercisers with no prior experience of running or resistance training (for example swimmers and cyclists). Further bias may have resulted from the fact that all of the participants in the untrained group belonged to just four trials of resistance exercise [17,19,50,51]. This exercise modality was associated with the largest recovery benefits from CG.…”

“…Finally, studies were also grouped according to participant training status, trained individuals being defined as those regularly competing in a given sport, belonging to a sports club, or those regularly exercising three or more times per week. Participants were classified as untrained if described as such by the authors [19,49], or were inexperienced in the exercise modality that was studied [50,51]. where 0.2 was taken to represent the smallest worthwhile effect [52].…”