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Do Compression Socks / Garments for Runners Really Work?

Discussion in 'Biomechanics, Sports and Foot orthoses' started by NewsBot, Dec 12, 2013.

  1. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    Last edited: Jul 9, 2014
  2. BEN-HUR

    BEN-HUR Well-Known Member

    Re: Do Compression Socks for Runners Really Work?

    I personally feel the compression tights (i.e. Skins) are next to useless as far as the intended claims are - they keep your legs a bit warmer but that's about it. However, the later Skins tights are better than earlier varieties as they have more sewn compartments which does make them more compressing/constrictive (for want of a better term/s) - but still doubtful about true physiological benefits - particularly withstanding/controlling the degree of muscle vibration whilst running (more so with faster running).

    The compression socks are much more compressing (quite hard to get on actually). Recently brought a pair (2XU variety) due to my Soleus being irritated from a massage session (another story in itself :mad: - I do my own massage from now on). Whilst these garments are much more constrictive (as advertised - have "maximum muscle containment") than full length tights - I'm still wary about the physiological claims. Albeit, I haven't put them through their paces via a hard training bout as yet i.e. hill or speed session. Despite the lack of evidence at this stage, I'll try to attain some optimism about them ;).
     
  3. Re: Do Compression Socks for Runners Really Work?

    Did some research in some of the claims, was having a discussion with jamie fuller, while the companies claim greater oxygen uptake of muscles and incraesed performance, independent research says otherwise. A bit like MTB.

    Recovery is a whole different thing, and compression has been shown to aid.

    interesting to note the UCI ie the international cycling federation has banned compression materials except socks.

    not sure about the IAAF
     
  4. bruk

    bruk Member

    Re: Do Compression Socks for Runners Really Work?

    Had an intern do a lit review on this a couple of years ago. There was solid evidence regarding improved recovery, and I believe with increased oxygen uptake as well, but necessarily improved performance.
    The take home message with research and real evidence regarding compression garments is that it is almost impossible to create a standardized compression from one person to the next. Any given size compression garment can result in grossly different quantities, and locations, of compression, depending on the volume, tissues and morphology of the body segment that the garment encompasses.
    To be able to approach any kind of reasonable reliability or validity, each garment would have to be custom made for each individual, with the ability to accurately measure compression and graduation of compression throughout the garment. While there are commercial companies that make custom garments, even for sport, it is still a very difficult variable to nail down, and therefore test.
     
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  5. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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  6. BEN-HUR

    BEN-HUR Well-Known Member

    Re: Do Compression Socks for Runners Really Work?

    Thanks NewsBot, the following has been pretty much my gut feeling as well...

    The above may come as a bit of a shock for some... some people swear by them (some are soooo devout to such 'aids' - reminds me of a certain 1st Law that springs up from time to time on this forum :rolleyes:).

    A healthy plant based diet will help with optimal "blood flow" & "recovery" (no, not pushing an agenda)... with educated (activity specific) training principles to improve strength (core & plyometric work) & efficiency. It seems you just can't put aside tried & tested discipline & hard work (as well as exercising that 'muscle' between the ears) when it comes to (legal) "improved performance"... despite the supposed (advertised) advancement of ergogenic aids.

    However, like I said before...

     
  7. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    The influence of compression garments on recovery following Marathon running
    Hill, Jessica; Howatson, Glyn; van Someren, Ken; Walshe, Ian; Pedlar, Charles
    Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: POST ACCEPTANCE, 7 April 2014
     
  8. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    The Effects of Continuous Compression as a Therapeutic Intervention on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
    Brent F. Fedorko, Fredric L. Goss, FACSM, Elizabeth F. Nagle, FACSM, Robert J. Robertson, FACSM, Karl A. Salesi
    Presented at ACSM Mtg; May 2014
     
  9. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Lower Leg Compression, Running Mechanics and Economy in Trained Distance Runners.
    Stickford A SL, Chapman RF, Johnston JD, Stager JM.
    Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2014 Jun 6
     
  10. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Compression Garment Promotes Muscular Strength Recovery after Resistance Exercise.
    Goto K, Morishima T.
    Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014 Jul 7.
     
  11. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    COMPRESSION SOCKS AND FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY FOLLOWING MARATHON RUNNING: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL.
    Armstrong, Stuart A; Till, Eloise S; Maloney, Stephen; Harris, Gregory
    Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: September 2, 2014
     
  12. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    No Graduated Pressure Profile in Compression Stockings Still Reduces Muscle Fatigue
    N. Miyamoto, Y. Kawakami
    Int J Sports Med ; DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1390495
     
  13. Br J Sports Med doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-092456
    Review
    Compression garments and recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage: a meta-analysis


    Jessica Hill1, Glyn Howatson2,4, Ken van Someren3, Jonathan Leeder2,5, Charles Pedlar1

    Abstract
    The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of compression garments on recovery following damaging exercise. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using studies that evaluated the efficacy of compression garments on measures of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), muscular strength, muscular power and creatine kinase (CK). Studies were extracted from a literature search of online databases. Data were extracted from 12 studies, where variables were measured at baseline and at 24 or 48 or 72 h postexercise. Analysis of pooled data indicated that the use of compression garments had a moderate effect in reducing the severity of DOMS (Hedges’ g=0.403, 95% CI 0.236 to 0.569, p<0.001), muscle strength (Hedges’ g=0.462, 95% CI 0.221 to 0.703, p<0.001), muscle power (Hedges’ g=0.487, 95% CI 0.267 to 0.707, p<0.001) and CK (Hedges’ g=0.439, 95% CI 0.171 to 0.706, p<0.001). These results indicate that compression garments are effective in enhancing recovery from muscle damage.
     
  14. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    The effect of leg compression garments on the mechanical characteristics and performance of single-leg hopping in healthy male volunteers
    Amitabh Gupta, Joshua John Bryers and Peter James Clothier
    BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation 2015, 7:10 doi:10.1186/s13102-015-0005-x
     
  15. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    The Use of Compression Stockings During a Marathon Competition to Reduce Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: Are They Really Useful?
    Francisco Areces, MS, Juan José Salinero, PhD, Javier Abian-Vicen, PT, PhD, Cristina González-Millán, PhD, Diana Ruiz-Vicente, PhD, Beatriz Lara, MS, María Lledó, PT, PhD, Juan Del Coso, PhD
    Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, Ahead of Print Pages: 1-31
     
  16. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Effect of 3 Weeks Use of Compression Garments on Stride and Impact Shock during a Fatiguing Run
    A. G. Lucas-Cuevas et al
    Int J Sports Med ; DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1548813
     
  17. TL74

    TL74 Active Member

    Always interesting to compare what the research says to what patients report. Most studies are showing minimal scientific benefit. Are the reports from patients purely psychological? Is it the feeling of support that makes them feel it must be doing something?
     
  18. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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  19. NewsBot

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    not running:
    Comparison among 18 mmHg and 23 mmHg elastic stockings effect on leg volume and tiredness after golf.
    Gianesini S et al
    Int Angiol. 2016 Mar 11
     
  22. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Is There Evidence that Runners can Benefit from Wearing Compression Clothing?
    Engel FA, Holmberg HC, Sperlich B.
    Sports Med. 2016 Apr 22
     
  23. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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  24. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Wearing Compression Garment after Endurance Exercise Promotes Recovery of Exercise Performance
    S. Mizuno et al
    Int J Sports Med ; DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-106301
     
  25. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    Effect of an Ankle Compression Garment on Fatigue and Performance.
    Šambaher N et al
    J Strength Cond Res. 2016 Feb;30(2):326-35. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001011.
     
  26. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Effect of Compression Socks Worn Between Repeated Maximal Running Bouts
    Ned Brophy-Williams et al
    International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance; Ahead of Print
     
  27. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
    1
    Is There Evidence that Runners can Benefit from Wearing Compression Clothing?
    Engel, F.A., Holmberg, HC. & Sperlich, B.
    Sports Med (2016) 46: 1939. doi:10.1007/s40279-016-0546-5
     
  28. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    The Effects of Compression Socks on Arterial
    Blood Flow and Arterial Reserves in Amateur
    Sportsmen

    Stefan Mann et al
    Development in Sports Science, Volume 1
     
  29. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    The effect of compression garments on controlled force output following heel-rise exercise.
    Kato, Emika; Nakamura, Mariko; Takahashi, Hideyuki
    Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: Post Acceptance: April 04, 2017
     
  30. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Calf Compression Sleeves Change Biomechanics but Not Performance and Physiological Responses in Trail Running
    Hugo A. Kerhervé et al
    Front. Physiol., 27 April 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.00247
     
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  31. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Press Release:
    Study Reveals Compression Tights Don't Help Runners Reach Finish Line
    June 1, 2017
    COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite the fact that distance runners swear by them, a new study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds compression tights don’t help runners go farther or faster.
    The study, presented at the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) annual meeting, shows that although compression tights greatly reduce muscle vibration, they don’t reduce muscle fatigue when compared to running without the tights.
    “When your muscle vibrates, it induces a contraction that uses energy, so the theory was that less muscle vibration would translate to less fatigue,” said Ajit Chaudhari, who led the study and is an associate professor of physical therapy, orthopedics, mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering. “However, the reduced vibration was not associated with any reduction in fatigue at all. In our study, runners performed the same with and without compression tights.”
    Study participants ran on a treadmill for 30 minutes at 80 percent of their maximum speed on two different days, once with compression tights and once without them. Motion capture technology tracked each runner’s body position within a fraction of a millimeter. Participants’ leg strength and jump height were tested before and after each run.
    “We have a specialized treadmill with force sensors embedded in it that measures how hard a runner’s foot is landing, how they’re able to push off and how that changes over time,” Chaudhari said. “The runners also wore a heart rate monitor so we could measure their exertion throughout the run.”
    One reason for trying to slow fatigue with compression tights, aside from running faster for longer, is the theory that fatigued runners alter their form and put more strain on their joints, which may increase overuse injury risk. However, further research showed that experienced runners had no more strain on their joints at the end of a training run than at the beginning.
    Although the results showed that the compression tights did not reduce fatigue in runners, Chaudhari says there may be other benefits. If runners feel better while wearing compression tights, that’s enough to keep using them.
    “There is nothing in this study that shows it’s bad to wear compression tights,” he said. “Every little bit of perception counts when running long distances, so they may help runners in ways we aren’t able to measure.”
    Additional research will focus on other aspects of compression tights and the possible benefits to runners in regards to performance and workout recovery.
    This study was supported by a research grant from Nike, Inc.
     
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  32. NewsBot

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    The Efficacy of Compression Garments on Recovery from a Simulated Rugby Protocol.
    Upton, Corrinn M; Brown, Freddy CW; Hill, Jessica A
    Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: August 29, 2017
     
  33. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Effects of wearing lower leg compression sleeves on locomotion economy
    Eduard Kurz & Christoph Anders
    Journal of Sports Sciences 15 Feb 2018
     
  34. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Association of Lower Limb Compression Garments During High-Intensity Exercise with Performance and Physiological Responses: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
    César Augusto da SilvaLucas HelalRoberto Pacheco da SilvaKarlyse Claudino BelliDaniel UmpierreRicardo Stein
    Sports Medicine: 02 May 2018
     
  35. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Do Compression Socks Influence Muscle Activity of
    the Lower Extremities?

    Andrew Craig-Jones. UNLV, Las Vegas, NV. (Sponsor: John A.
    Mercer, FACSM)
    Presented at ACSM Mtg, 2018
     
  36. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Wearing compression socks during exercise aids subsequent performance
    Ned Brophy-Williams et al
    January 2019Volume 22, Issue 1, Pages 123–127
     
  37. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    Effects of Exercise Compression Stockings on Anterior Muscle Compartment Pressure and Oxygenation During Running: A Randomized Crossover ‘Trial’ Conducted in Healthy Recreational Runners
    Kajsa RennerfeltSophia LindorssonHelena BrisbyAdad BarantoQiuxia Zhang
    Sports Medicine: 15 May 2019
     
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  38. NewsBot

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    Compression Garments Reduce Muscle Movement and Activation during Submaximal Running
    Broatch, James R et al
    Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: October 4, 2019 - Volume Publish Ahead of Print - Issue - p
     
  39. NewsBot

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    Wearing compression garments differently affects monopodal postural balance in high-level athletes
    Kévin Baige al
    Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 18;10(1):15331
     
  40. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

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    Compression socks reduce running-induced intestinal damage.
    Zadow, EK, Edwards, KH, Kitic, CM, Fell, JW, Adams, MJ, Singh, I, Kundur, A, Johnstone, ANB, Crilly, J, Bulmer, AC, Halson, SL, and, and Wu, SSX.
    J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2020
     
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