It is well known that compression garments (CG) improve venous pooling or blood flow parameters such as deep venous velocity (Lawrence 1980). However, whether or not there is an enhancement of venous return parameters during physical exercise, is still unclear. The aim of our study is to quantify the influence of CG on calf muscle-pump capacity during physical exertion. Methods: 43 subjects, 21 male (age: 22.8 ± 5.5 years; height: 185.2 ± 5.7 cm; weight: 77.8 ± 12.2kg) and 22 female subjects (age: 21.3 ± 2.6 years; height: 169.6 ± 5.2 cm; weight: 58.4 ± 5.9kg) completed 2 randomized testing sessions. In the course of one session, the subjects wore compression socks (Running Compression Socks, CEP, Bayreuth (Germany), 24-18mmHg ),during the second, they did not. At each session, every subject had to execute three times twelve tiptoestandings to the pulse of a metronome. The muscle pump capacity was measured by 2-channelvenous-occlusion-plethysmography (Compactus 712, Gutmann MD GmbH, Geretsried, Germany) Results: The calf muscle-pump capacity increased significantly (p<0.05) whilst executing the tiptoestandings. The mean improvement ranges from 1.15 ± 0.66ml/100ml without to 1.56 ± 0.59ml/100ml with compression stockings. Through compression stockings, all subjects could enhance the capacity under compression conditions, females from 1.04 ± 0.64ml/100ml to 1.36 ± 0.61ml/100ml, males from 1.26 ± 0.69ml/100ml to 1.76 ± 49ml/100ml. Discussion: The present study shows a significant performance enhancement for the function of calf muscle-pump achieved by wearing CG. Previous studies have shown inconsistent results; whilst some promise performance improvement by using CG in sports (Kemmler 2009, Chatard 2004), others do not agree on those findings (Scanlan 2008, Sperlich 2010). For the positive results of wearing CG, the present study may be a statement of grounds.
© Copyright 2012 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012. Published by Vrije Universiteit Brussel. All rights reserved.