It has been discussed for a long time, and every time the topic comes up, the question is always the same: does compression clothing work?
Beyond personal experiences-advice from friends is not always well-founded-science can give us the best answer. And, fortunately, there are many independent scientific studies that come to our aid. We need to put some order, however, because there are so many studies analyzing different effects.
COMPRESSPORT
, the benchmark company for compression apparel, has put all this research together to analyze its effects and, as a result, make even better products.
As I mentioned, compression clothing impacts many aspects of sports performance. Specifically on:
- injury prevention;
- venous return;
- proprioception;
- Effects on the digestive system and stomach problems;
- recovery;
- Reduction of muscle vibration.
Clearly we are not going to go into everything because otherwise, rather than a post, this would become a treatise. But I want to focus on a few aspects that, in my opinion, are important and – in some ways – little known.
The variables
The first thing to consider in this little journey into compression are the variables that affect it. As you can easily imagine, the effects and results can vary depending on the athlete’s gender, age, and training. Indeed, males and females have different characteristics. To give you an example, women have lower blood flow and, as a result, will need more compression, especially during recovery.
While good news for us is that compression is much more useful for lower level athletes and its effectiveness increases with increasing age.
Another variable that must be considered is the degree of compression applied to the muscle. Indeed, the challenge is to be able to find a level that is effective but without causing discomfort.
The venous return
This is a very simple concept that anyone who has been immobile for a long time has experienced. In fact, the force of gravity causes the blood to concentrate at the bottom, making it harder to circulate and causing the typical swelling from inactivity. These are the typical road trip situations or related to the long time spent in line waiting for the bib.
In this context, compression provides the correct pressure for efficient venous return and, consequently, optimal blood circulation.
In fact, the study done (Peseux et al. 2017) showed that blood oxygenation at the tissue level is almost 20 percent higher when in motionless (or semi-immobility) and wearing compression garments.
The effect is therefore very simple: you arrive at the race with fresher legs and ready for performance.
Reduction of muscle vibration
Here again you can easily see what is meant: compression keeps the muscle firmer, supporting it and reducing its vibration during movement by up to 30 percent.
In this way, fewer microinjuries are formed and, as a result, fewer injuries are risked in training while, in competition, the risk of cramping and the onset of fatigue is reduced.
Effects on the digestive system and stomach problems
In long runs or harder workouts, the digestive system is not sufficiently assisted by circulatory function because blood is more concentrated in the limbs. Compression, in this case, promotes a more even distribution of blood and, consequently, reduces the occurrence of digestive problems.
In fact, a specific test was carried out with 2 groups of 23 runners running a marathon (one with compression knee-highs, the other without). At the end, the presence of I-FABP (the marker protein for intestinal problems) was measured, and it was seen to be drastically lower in the group that used compression.
This is something that can occur especially in ultra races. In fact, in the 2013 to 2016 editions, the percentage of finishers using compression is higher than those not wearing them. While, on the other hand, the percentage of retreatants who do not wear compression garments is higher than those who do.
Improved proprioception and stability
Characteristically, compression activates proprioception receptors, improving their efficiency. This has an important feedback especially in stability during trail and road races. As a result, injuries are reduced and running technique improves, with an inevitable benefit also in delaying the onset of fatigue.
So is compression useful?
In light of all this, we can definitely say yes. And not because a friend told us so but with, in hand, scientific studies to prove it.
For info: COMPRESSPORT