The effects of compression garments on the recovery of long distance runners after prolonged exercise

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Various types of post-exercise recovery strategies have become part of the modern athlete'sdaily routine. It is a well known that inadequate recovery will prolong the time it takes for therunner's body to adequately adapt between training sessions and competitions. Anecdotalclaims have been made about compression garments as a beneficial method to assist recoveryafter training sessions and competitions. Until now limited scientific research has addressedthe influence that compression garments have on the recovery process after sporting activities.The benefits of compression garments, as a possible recovery modality, are that it is costeffective,practical and easily obtainable.This study endeavored to investigate the possible influence that compression garments mayhave on middle-aged long distance runners' recovery rate after a prolonged run. This is thefirst study that has focused on compression garments as a post-exercise recovery modality forexperienced middle-aged long distance runners. The other unique aspect of this study is theprolonged two-hour treadmill protocol that was used to induce muscle soreness.In addressing the aims, a randomized, crossover study design was used to investigate thepossible benefits that the high pressure (CCL II 23-32 mmHg (mercury millimeter)) graduatedcompression garments may bring about. Seven competitive male long distance runners(height: 176.0 ± 8.6 cm; body mass: 92.5 ± 11.8 kg; VO2max: 45.7 ± 5.0 mL.kg-1.min-1)between the ages of 36 to 51 years volunteered for the study. The runners had to complete atwo-hour treadmill run at 70 % of their predetermined maximum aerobic capacity, followedby a monitored 72-hour recovery period. The first part of the prolonged run was a 90–minutevariant gradient run, followed by a 30-minute downhill run. Each subject acted as his owncontrol and visited the Stellenbosch University's Sport Physiology Laboratory (South Africa)on two occasions, separated by 7 to 28 days. One test was done with a compression garment(23 to 32 mmHg) and the other without.Testing included the measurement of lower limb circumferences (ankle, calf, mid- andproximal thigh), plasma lactate, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase concentrations andthe completion of subjective questionnaires on perceived muscle soreness (visual analog scale(VAS)). The lower extremities' functional ability was determined with a time to exhaustion(TTE) step test, a vertical jump test (VJ) and modified sit-and-reach flexibility test. Preexercisemeasurements were taken and immediately after and during the 72 hour after the treadmill run and repeated for the second bout.The main outcomes of this study showed that the two-hour treadmill run induced delayedonset of muscle soreness, with and without the compression garment. Evidence of this was asignificant rise in plasma creatine kinase (CKp) over the duration of both trials (P < 0.05). Thecompression garment significantly reduced swelling in the calf muscle (41.0 ± 0.2 vs. 41.5 ±0.5 mm; P < 0.002). Runners showed a lower perceived muscular pain and discomfort whileperforming functional knee movements at 24 and 48-hours after the two-hour run with thecompression garment (1.2 ± 1.6 vs. 3.8 ± 2.4 cm and 0.9 ± 1.8 vs. 3.0 ± 2.6 cm on VAS,respectively; P < 0.05). Significant differences in perceived muscle soreness between theWCG and WOCG trials were observed at 24-hours after the run during rest (0.1 ± 0.2 vs. 0.4± 0.8 cm; P = 0.02) and with stretching (1.9 ± 1.2 vs. 3.5 ± 2.5 cm on VAS P = 0.02). Theperceived pain associated with pressure was significantly lower with the compression garmentat 24 (307 %) and 48-hours (237 %) after the run (P < 0.05).Blood lactate levels were reduced during the acute phase of recovery at 10 (1.8 ± 0.5 vs. 2.2 ±0.9 mmol.L-1; P = 0.05) and 30 minutes (1.8 ± 0.5 vs. 2.4 ± 0.4 mmol.L-1; P = 0.01) after therun, as well as plasma creatine kinase concentrations were statistically significantly lower at24-hours (238.3 ± 81.3 vs. 413.3 ± 250.8 units.L-1; P = 0.005) after exercise with thecompression garment. The two-hour treadmill run and the compression garment had nosignificant influence on the runners' lower limb strength, power, endurance or flexibility (P >0.05).Compression garments demonstrated the potential to enhance recovery after prolongedstrenuous exercise in well trained middle-aged runners. In addition, runners did notexperience additional fatigue from the moderate to high pressure garments. The effect ofhigher pressure compression garments on athletic performance and the psychologicalinfluence of the garment need further investigation.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University