title: Are compression garments effective for the recovery of exercise-induced muscle damage? A systematic review with meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to identify benefits of compression garments used for recovery of exercised-induced muscle damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computer-based literature research was performed in September 2015 using four online databases: Medline (PubMed), Cochrane, WOS (Web Of Science) and Scopus. The analysis of risk of bias was completed in accordance with the Cochrane Collaboration Guidelines. Mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated with Hedges' g for continuous outcomes. A random effect meta-analysis model was used. Systematic differences (heterogeneity) were assessed with I(2) statistic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most results obtained had high heterogeneity, thus their interpretation should be careful. Our findings showed that creatine kinase (standard mean difference=-0.02, 9 studies) was unaffected when using compression garments for recovery purposes. In contrast, blood lactate concentration was increased (standard mean difference=0.98, 5 studies). Applying compression reduced lactate dehydrogenase (standard mean difference=-0.52, 2 studies), muscle swelling (standard mean difference=-0.73, 5 studies) and perceptual measurements (standard mean difference=-0.43, 15 studies). Analyses of power (standard mean difference=1.63, 5 studies) and strength (standard mean difference=1.18, 8 studies) indicate faster recovery of muscle function after exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the application of compression clothing may aid in the recovery of exercise induced muscle damage, although the findings need corroboration.
authors.affiliation: Physical Education and Sport Department, University of Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Vitoria, Spain. Electronic address: dmarques001@ikasle.ehu.eus.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marqués-Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Physical Education and Sport Department, University of Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Vitoria, Spain. Electronic address: julio.calleja@ehu.es.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calleja-González
authors.affiliation: Physical Education and Sport Department, University of Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Vitoria, Spain. Electronic address: inaki.arratibel@ehu.eus.
authors.forename: Iñaki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arratibel
authors.affiliation: Sport and Health Sciences Department, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK. Electronic address: adelextrat@brookes.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delextrat
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Regional Unit of Sports Medicine of Asturias, Avilés, Spain. Electronic address: nterrados@ayto-aviles.es.
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Terrados
mesh_terms: D003020:Clothing; D058128:Compression Bandages; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D063806:Myalgia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D035501:Uncertainty
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase
keywords: Exercise; Metabolism; Metabolites; Muscle function; Venous hemodynamic