Summary

Sports compression socks elevate leg intramuscular pressure which lead to a reduction of local perfusion pressure and reduced muscle oxygen saturation during running

Abstract

Sports compression socks have become more and more popular among athletes at different levels during the last ten years and are launched by the sport industry as having a number of positive effects on sport performance. The scientific ground for this is however not clear. The purpose of the present study was to examine the circulatory effect of sports compression socks on lower leg muscle considering intramuscular pressure, local muscle oxygen saturation and muscular metabolites, before, during and following a 10- km treadmill run. Twenty healthy runners completed two identical sessions of treadmill running with and without sports compression socks with maximum 3 weeks between the sessions. The participants were randomization regarding in which order the sessions were performed. Intramuscular pressure and tissue oxygenation index of the anterior compartment in one lower leg were continuously measured before, during and after running sessions. Blood samples were collected just before and directly after the running sessions and analysed for myoglobin and creatine kinase concentrations. The use of compression socks during running resulted in significantly higher intramuscular pressure by 22 ± 3.1 mmHg and lower tissue oxygenation index by 11 ± 1.8 % in average compared to running without compression socks. In addition, higher serum myoglobin concentrations in 15/20 (75%) of subjects but no difference for serum creatine kinase concentrations were observed post running when the compression socks were used. In conclusion, the present study indicate that healthy runners do not gain any circulatory benefits from wearing sports compression socks during treadmill running.