title: What is the effect of compression garments on a balance task in female athletes?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of long leg compression garments on the postural sway and balance ability of female athletes at a state sports institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  A laboratory was set up to analyse kinetic and kinematic variables using a double blind, randomised controlled repeated measures cross over design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were required to perform a single leg balance task for up to 60s across six conditions; including eyes-open and eyes-closed while wearing conventional shorts (control), loose-fitted compression garment and well-fitted compression garments. Simultaneous measurements of ground reaction forces and full body joint kinematics were recorded. Postural stability was assessed by measuring the overall stabilisation time as well as the movement of the centre of pressure (CoP) and centre of mass (CoM) from baseline measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During one leg stance, significantly greater postural stability (p < 0.01) was observed with eyes open vs eyes closed, irrespective of compression group. A significantly greater (p < 0.05) balance time was observed with eyes closed when wearing well-fitted compression garments compared to conventional shorts. Differences were not present with use of the loose-fitted garment. Additionally, a significant interaction effect between compression condition and vision was observed analysing the variation about the sway (swaySD) of the CoP and CoM data (p < 0.05). The interaction effect revealed greater variability of movement with eyes closed as participants' level of compression decreased. No significant differences were observed with eyes open.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The difficulties of postural stability while maintaining the single leg stance wearing conventional shorts were improved with use of the well-fitted compression garments (in the eyes-closed condition). Proper fitted compression garments may be beneficial for injury management and injury prevention.
authors: Applied Research Program, New South Wales Institute of Sport, 6 Figtree Drive, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127, Australia.
authors: Jacob S
authors: JS
authors: Michael
authors: Applied Research Program, New South Wales Institute of Sport, 6 Figtree Drive, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127, Australia. Electronic address: sera.dogramaci@nswis.com.au.
authors: Sera N
authors: SN
authors: Dogramaci
authors: School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South, NSW 1797, Australia.
authors: Kylie A
authors: KA
authors: Steel
authors: Applied Research Program, New South Wales Institute of Sport, 6 Figtree Drive, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127, Australia.
authors: Kenneth S
authors: KS
authors: Graham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003020:Clothing; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D053828:Stockings, Compression
keywords: Athlete; Compression garment; Female; Motor learning; Proprioception