Influence of compression garments on recovery after marathon running.
Strenuous physical activity can result in exercise-induced muscle damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a lower limb compression garment in accelerating recovery from a marathon run. Twenty four subjects (female, n = 7; male, n = 17) completed a marathon run before being assigned to a treatment group or a sham treatment group. The treatment group wore lower limb compression tights for 72 hours after the marathon run, the sham treatment group received a single treatment of 15 minutes of sham ultrasound after the marathon run. Perceived muscle soreness, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and serum markers of creatine kinase (CK) and C-reactive protein (C-RP) were assessed before, immediately after, and 24, 48, and 72 hours after the marathon run. Perceived muscle soreness was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) in the compression group at 24 hours after marathon when compared with the sham group. There were no significant group effects for MVIC, CK, and C-RP (p > 0.05). The use of a lower limb compression garment improved subjective perceptions of recovery; however, there was neither a significant improvement in muscular strength nor a significant attenuation in markers of exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation.
1School of Sport, Health, and Applied Science, St. Mary's University, Twickenham, United Kingdom; 2School Life of Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom; 3Centre for Aquatic Research, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; and 4GSK Human Performance Lab, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, London, United Kingdom.
Jessica A
JA
Hill
Glyn
G
Howatson
Ken A
KA
van Someren
Ian
I
Walshe
Charles R
CR
Pedlar
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003020:Clothing; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D063806:Myalgia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010465:Perception; D011312:Pressure; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003402:Creatine Kinase