title: Long-term effects of graduated compression stockings on cardiorespiratory performance.
abstract: The use of graduated compression stockings (GCS) in sport has been increasing in the last years due to their potential positive effects for athletes. However, there is little evidence to support whether these types of garments actually improve cardiorespiratory performance. The aim of this study was to examine the cardiorespiratory responses of GCS during running after three weeks of regular use. Twenty recreational runners performed three tests on different days: test 1) - a 5-min maximal effort run in order to determine the participants' maximal aerobic speed; and tests 2) and 3) - a fatigue running test of 30 minutes at 80% of their maximal aerobic speed with either GCS or PLACEBO stockings at random. Cardiorespiratory parameters (minute ventilation, heart rate, relative oxygen consumption, relative carbon dioxide production, ventilatory equivalents for oxygen and carbon dioxide, and oxygen pulse) were measured. Before each test in the laboratory, the participants trained with the randomly assigned stockings (GCS or PLACEBO) for three weeks. No significant differences between GCS and PLACEBO were found in any of the cardiorespiratory parameters. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence that running with GCS for three weeks does not influence cardiorespiratory parameters in recreational runners.
authors.affiliation: Research Group in Sports Biomechanics (GIBD), Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain ; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Priego
authors.affiliation: Research Group in Sports Biomechanics (GIBD), Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lucas-Cuevas
authors.affiliation: Research Group in Sports Biomechanics (GIBD), Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.affiliation: Research Group in Sports Biomechanics (GIBD), Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Giménez
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Specific Didactics, Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig - Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cortell-Tormo
authors.affiliation: Research Group in Sports Biomechanics (GIBD), Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pérez-Soriano
keywords: exercise test; heart rate; oxygen consumption; physiology; respiratory parameters; running