Athletic Performance and Compression

Do compression socks help? Can compression improve athletic performance? Questions you will hear in every discussion about compression.

The compression method, using compression socks, is now one of the most popular methods used by athletes in crossfit, basketball, football, swimming, athletics and other sports to improve athletic performance. Studies have shown that compression is associated with improved athletic performance by influencing factors such as muscle strength, muscular power and effective muscle contraction.

An additional factor that affects athletic performance is the availability of oxygen to the muscles. Proper muscle function is linked to an adequate oxygen supply; therefore, increasing oxygen delivery to muscle tissue would represent an athletic performance advantage.

A recent study was conducted to demonstrate the effect of external compression on the energy used by the gastrocnemius muscle (calf) during a short-cycle activity and, additionally, to determine the effect of compression on oxygen delivery to muscle tissue (Coza, el al 2012).

Compression was applied using a specially designed compression sleeve to provide compression to the gastrocnemius. The compression sleeve was selected based on the circumference of the calf.

Results:

The study results showed that the average short-term rate of oxygen delivery to muscle tissue was 24% higher during the phase when calf compression was worn compared with the phase when it was not worn. Based on these data, we can conclude that compression has a positive effect on increasing oxygen delivery to the muscles, which represents an advantage for athletic performance. On the other hand, no positive effect was found on the amount of energy used by the muscle. Therefore, compression socks and accessories can be used by male and female athletes.

In conclusion:

The use of compression garments can bring about changes in blood flow, resulting in improved oxygen delivery to the muscles. Optimal oxygen delivery to the muscles during short-duration exercise is a significant advantage for athletic performance in many sports. The use of compression garments is quite widespread in weightlifting and bodybuilding. According to the findings above, compression benefits sports involving short, repeated periods of exercise.

Sources: Effects of Compression on Muscle Tissue Oxygenation at the Onset of Exercise (Coza, Aurel; Dunn, Jeff F.; Anderson, Brady; Nigg, Benno M, 2012) Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: June 2012 – Volume 26 – Issue 6 – p 1631–1637

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Author: Kyriaki Mitrou, MSc