The effects of compression garments on intermittent exercise performance and recovery on consecutive days.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether compression garments improve intermittent-sprint performance and aid performance or self-reported recovery from high-intensity efforts on consecutive days.


METHODS
Following familiarization, 14 male rugby players performed two randomized testing conditions (with or without garments) involving consecutive days of a simulated team sport exercise protocol, separated by 24 h of recovery within each condition and 2 weeks between conditions. Each day involved an 80-min high-intensity exercise circuit, with exercise performance determined by repeated 20-m sprints and peak power on a cart dynamometer (single-man scrum machine). Measures of nude mass, heart rate, skin and tympanic temperature, and blood lactate (La-) were recorded throughout each day; also, creatine kinase (CK) and muscle soreness were recorded each day and 48 h following exercise.


RESULTS
No differences (P=.20 to 0.40) were present between conditions on either day of the exercise protocol for repeated 20-m sprint efforts or peak power on a cart dynamometer. Heart rate, tympanic temperature, and body mass did not significantly differ between conditions; however, skin temperature was higher under the compression garments. Although no differences (P=.50) in La- or CK were present, participants felt reduced levels of perceived muscle soreness in the ensuing 48 h postexercise when wearing the garments (2.5+/-1.7 vs 3.5+/-2.1 for garment and control; P=.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of compression garments did not improve or hamper simulated team-sport activity on consecutive days. Despite benefits of reduced self-reported muscle soreness when wearing garments during and following exercise each day, no improvements in performance or recovery were apparent.
Duffield
Rob
R
School of Human Movement Studies, Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia.
Edge
Johann
J
Merrells
Robert
R
Hawke
Emma
E
Barnes
Matt
M
Simcock
David
D
Gill
Nicholas
N
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D003402:Creatine Kinase