The Effect Of Compression Garments On Cardiorespiratory Variables Following Anaerobic Exercise In Healthy Adults

Compression garments (CG) are commonly used by athletes to enhance recovery following exercise. Specifically, wearing CG during exercise training has been shown to reduce muscle soreness and improve impact acceleration. However, the acute effects of donning CG following exercise are unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that wearing CG will improve cardiorespiratory variables following anaerobic exercise when compared to not wearing CG. METHODS: Ten subjects (age: 20.9 ± 1.6 y, BMI: 22.8 ± 1.9 kg/m2, 3F) completed three randomized sessions: a session where CG was not worn at all (CT), a session where CG was worn during recovery only (RC), and a session where CG was always worn (CG). Each session began with 10 min of supine baseline. Then, subjects completed a Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) followed by 15 min of recovery in a supine position (R1). Thereafter, subjects repeated this procedure a second time (R2). Each WAnT consisted of a 30-second all-out cycle against 7.5% of one’s body weight in kg. Heart rate (HR, bpm), mean arterial pressure (MAP, mmHg), respiratory rate (RR, b/min), and lactate (La, mmol/L) were measured at baseline, R1, and R2 via a chest strap, an automated sphygmomanometer, manual counting, and a finger prick, respectively. Data are presented as a change from baseline and were analyzed via a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences (p = 0.36) for the change in HR between conditions during CT (R1: 31 ± 9, R2: 32 ± 7 bpm), RC (R1: 29 ± 8, R2: 30 ± 10 bpm), or CG (R1: 33 ± 7, R2: 36 ± 8 bpm). There were no statistical differences (p = 0.64) for the change in MAP between CT (R1: 9 ± 36, R2: -3 ± 13 mmHg), RC (R1: 3 ± 13, R2: -9 ± 10 mmHg), or CG (R1: -1 ± 6, R2: -4 ± 8 mmHg). There were no statistical differences (p = 0.11) for the change in RR between CT (R1: 4 ± 2, R2: 2 ± 5 b/min), RC (BL: R1: 8 ± 5, R2: 5 ± 4 b/min), or CG (R1: 6 ± 5, R2: 5 ± 5 b/min). There were no statistical differences (p = 0.78) for the change in La between CT (R1: 7.7 ± 2.5, R2: 8.4 ± 4.9 mmol/L), RC (R1: 8.0 ± 2.1, R2: 10.2 ± 3.5 mmol/L), or CG (R1: 8.3 ± 3.3, R2: 9.7 ± 6.0 mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences between CT, RC, or CG for HR, MAP, RR, or La. Thus, it appears that these cardiorespiratory variables are not improved during recovery following anaerobic exercise as a result of wearing CG.