Study Design Case-control study; ecological study. Objectives To examine the efficacy of wearing compression stockings to prevent muscle damage and to maintain running performance during a marathon competition. Background Exercise-induced muscle damage has been identified as one of the main causes for the progressive decrease in running and muscular performance found during marathon races. Methods Thirty-four experienced runners were pair-matched for age, anthropometric data and best race time in the marathon and randomly assigned to the control group (n=17; using conventional socks) or to the compression stockings group (n=17; using foot-to-knee graduated compression stockings). Before and after the race, a sample of venous blood was obtained and jump height and leg muscle power were measured during a countermovement jump. Serum myoglobin and creatine kinase concentrations were determined as blood markers of muscle fiber damage. Results Total race time was not different between groups (210 ± 23 vs 214 ± 22 min, P = 0.58 for control vs compression stockings groups, respectively). Post-race reduction in leg muscle power (-19.8 ± 17.7 vs -24.8 ± 18.4%, P = 0.37) and jump height (-25.3 ± 14.1 vs -32.5 ± 20.4%, P = 0.27) were similar between groups. At the end of the race, there were no differences in serum myoglobin (568 ± 347 vs 573 ± 270 ng·mL-1, P = 0.97) and creatine kinase concentration (390 ± 166 vs 487 ± 227 U·-1, P = 0.16). Conclusion The use of compression stockings did not improve running pace and did not prevent exercise-induced muscle damage during the marathon. Wearing compression stockings during long-distance running events is an ineffective strategy to avoid the deleterious effects of muscle damage on running performance.
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