title: The use of compression stockings during a marathon competition to reduce exercise-induced muscle damage: are they really useful?
abstract: METHODS
  Case-control study; ecological study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the efficacy of wearing compression stockings to prevent muscle damage and to maintain running performance during a marathon competition.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Exercise-induced muscle damage has been identified as one of the main causes of the progressive decrease in running and muscular performance found during marathon races.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four experienced runners were pair-matched for age, anthropometric data, and best race time in the marathon, and randomly assigned to a control group (n = 17) of runners who wore conventional socks or to a group of runners who wore foot-to-knee graduated compression stockings (n = 17). Before and after the race, a sample of venous blood was obtained, and jump height and leg muscle power were measured during a countermovement jump. Serum myoglobin and creatine kinase concentrations were determined as blood markers of muscle fiber damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total race time was not different between the control group and the compression stockings group (210 ± 23 and 214 ± 22 minutes, respectively; P = .58). Between the control group and the compression stockings group, postrace reductions in leg muscle power (-19.8% ± 17.7% versus -24.8% ± 18.4%, respectively; P = .37) and jump height (-25.3% ± 14.1% versus -32.5% . 20.4%, respectively; P = .27) were similar. At the end of the race, there were no differences between the control group and the compression stockings group in serum myoglobin (568 ± 347 ng·mL(-1) versus 573 ± 270 ng·mL(-1), respectively; P = .97) and creatine kinase concentration (390 ± 166 U·L(-1) versus 487 ± 227 U·L(-1), respectively; P = .16).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of compression stockings did not improve running pace and did not prevent exercise-induced muscle damage during the marathon. Wearing compression stockings during long-distance running events is an ineffective strategy to avoid the deleterious effects of muscle damage on running performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapy, level 2b.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sport Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Areces
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Salinero
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abian-Vicen
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Millán
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Vicente
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lledó
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Coso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries*; D063806:Myalgia / Q000517:prevention & control; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000097:blood; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009211:Myoglobin; D003402:Creatine Kinase
keywords: compression stockings; marathon; muscle damage; myoglobin; performance