title: Comparison between the effects of 18- and 23-mmHg elastic stockings on leg volume and fatigue in golfers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the effect of 18- versus 23-mmHg hosiery as for leg volume and fatigue control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty golf players (M: N.=29, F: N.=11; mean age 48±11 years) were randomized for a 18-hole competition without hosiery (N.=10), with 18-mmHg graduated stockings (N.=10) and with 23-mmHg graduated stockings (N.=20, half of which footless and half footed). An echo-color-Doppler scanning excluded vascular pathologies. Limb volume was assessed by water plethysmography. The perceived fatigue was assessed by a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of no hosiery led to a 5% increase in leg volume (P<0.0001). In the 18-mmHg group, a non-significant 1% volume reduction was observed. In the 23-mmHg group, leg volume significantly decreased by 4% both with footless and footed stockings. A significant fatigue reduction was perceived only in the 23-mmHg group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A leg volume increase was reported along an 18-hole competition. In the 18- and 23-mmHg groups, only the latter demonstrated a significant reduction in leg volume and perceived fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diseases Center, Unit of Translational Surgery, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy - sergiogianesini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gianesini
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diseases Center, Unit of Translational Surgery, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tessari
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diseases Center, Unit of Translational Surgery, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menegatti
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diseases Center, Unit of Translational Surgery, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spath
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diseases Center, Unit of Translational Surgery, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Vannini
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diseases Center, Unit of Translational Surgery, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Savino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Occhionorelli
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diseases Center, Unit of Translational Surgery, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zamboni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004487:Edema / Q000628:therapy*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006055:Golf; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010991:Plethysmography; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy