Compression garments reduce muscle movement and activation during sub-maximal running

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of three different commercially-available lower-limb sports compression garments in reducing muscle displacement, soft-tissue vibrations, and muscle activation during running.

At a glance:

• Compression tights reduce muscle displacement during submaximal treadmill running
• Wearing compression garments may increase damping of soft-tissue vibrations during running
• Reductions in muscle vibrations and activation had no effect on markers of running economy

Full reference and abstract:

Broatch, J. R., Brophy-Williams, N., Phillips, E. J., O’Bryan, S. J., Halson, S. L., Barnes, S. & Bishop, D. J. (2019). Compression garments reduce muscle movement and activation during submaximal running. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Epub ahead of print.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of sports compression tights in reducing muscle movement and activation during running.

METHODS: A total of 27 recreationally-active males were recruited across two separate studies. For study one, 13 participants (mean ± SD; 84.1 ± 9.4 kg, 22 ± 3 y) completed two 4-min treadmill running bouts (2 min at 12 km.h^-1 and 15 km.h^-1) under two conditions; a no-compression control (CON₁) and compression (COMP). For study two, 14 participants (77.8 ± 8.4 kg, 27 ± 5 y) completed four 9-min treadmill running bouts (3 min at 8 km.h^-1, 10 km.h^-1, and 12 km.h^-1) under four conditions; a no-compression control (CON₂) and three different commercially-available compression tights (2XU; Nike; Under Armor, UA). Using Vicon 3D motion capture technology, lower-limb muscle displacement was investigated in both study one (thigh and calf) and two (vastus lateralis + medialis, VAS; lateral + medial gastrocnemius, GAS). In addition, study two investigated the effects of compression on soft-tissue vibrations (root mean square of resultant acceleration, RMS A_r), muscle activation (iEMG), and running economy (oxygen consumption, V̇O₂) during treadmill running.

RESULTS: Wearing compression during treadmill running reduced thigh and calf muscle displacement as compared with no compression (both studies), which was evident across all running speeds. Compression also reduced RMS A_r and iEMG during treadmill running, but had no effect on running economy (study two).

CONCLUSION: Lower-limb compression garments are effective in reducing muscle displacement, soft-tissue vibrations, and muscle activation associated with the impact forces experienced during running.