Effects of Gradual-Elastic Compression Stockings on Running Economy, Kinematics, and Performance in Runners

• Autores: Adrián Varela-Sanz, Javier España, Natasha Carr, Daniel A. Boullosa Álvarez, Jonathan Esteve Lanao
• Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 25, Nº. 10, 2011, págs. 2902-2910
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • We investigated the effect of gradual-elastic compression stockings (GCSs) on running economy (RE), kinematics, and performance in endurance runners. Sixteen endurance trained athletes (age: 34.73 ± 6.27 years; [latin capital V with dot above]O2max: 62.83 ± 9.03 ml·kg-1·min-1; 38 minutes in 10 km; 1 hour 24 minutes in half marathon) performed in random order 4 bouts of 6 minutes at a recent half-marathon pace on a treadmill to evaluate RE with or without GCSs. Subsequently, 12 athletes were divided into 2 equal groups matched by their [latin capital V with dot above]O2max, and they performed a time limit test (Tlim) on a treadmill at 105% of a recent 10-km pace with or without GCSs for evaluation of physiological responses and running kinematics. There were no significant differences in the RE test in all of the variables analyzed for the conditions, but a moderate reproducibility for some physiological responses was detected in the condition with GCSs. In the Tlim, the group that wore GCSs reached a lower % of maximum heart rate (HRmax) compared with the control group (96.00 ± 2.94 vs. 99.83 ± 0.40) (p = 0.01). Kinematics did not differ between conditions during the Tlim (p > 0.05). There were improvement trends for time to fatigue (337 vs. 387 seconds; d = 0.32) and a lower [latin capital V with dot above]O2peak ([almost equal to]53 vs. 62 ml·kg-1·min-1; d = 1.19) that were detected with GCSs during the Tlim. These results indicate that GCSs reduce the % of HRmax reached during a test at competition pace. The lower reproducibility of the condition with GCSs perhaps suggests that athletes may possibly need an accommodation period for systematically experiencing the benefits of this garment, but this hypothesis should be further investigated.