Does compression help with recovery?

Introduction

The use of compression garments as a recovery strategy following exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) has been widely studied. This synthesis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of compression garments in enhancing recovery by examining various research findings.

Key Insights

Reduction in Muscle Soreness and Swelling:
- Compression garments significantly reduce muscle soreness and swelling following exercise-induced muscle damage .
Improvement in Muscle Strength and Power Recovery:
- Wearing compression garments enhances the recovery of muscle strength and power, particularly in the first 24-48 hours post-exercise .
Effectiveness in Reducing Creatine Kinase Levels:
- Some studies indicate that compression garments can reduce the elevation of creatine kinase levels, which is a marker of muscle damage .
Enhanced Performance Recovery:
- Compression garments improve performance recovery in activities such as vertical jumps, sprints, and cycling, especially when worn for extended periods post-exercise .
Pressure and Duration of Compression:
- Higher pressure compression garments tend to be more effective in improving recovery of muscle function compared to lower pressure garments .
Combination with Other Therapies:
- Combining compression with other recovery modalities, such as contrast therapy, can further enhance recovery outcomes.
Psychological and Physiological Benefits:
- Compression garments also contribute to reduced perceived muscle pain and improved psychological recovery .

Conclusion

Compression garments are an effective recovery strategy for reducing muscle soreness and swelling, enhancing muscle strength and power recovery, and improving overall performance recovery post-exercise. The benefits are more pronounced with higher pressure garments and when combined with other recovery modalities.

Does compression help with recovery?

Summary

Consensus Meter

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Lower limb compression garment improves recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in young, active females

Compression clothing effectively improves recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in young, active females, reducing performance declines and muscle soreness.

Compression Garments and Recovery from Exercise: A Meta-Analysis

Compression garments enhance strength recovery from resistance exercise and next-day cycling performance, with the largest benefits occurring from 2 to 8 hours and >24 hours post-exercise.

Compression garments and recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage: a meta-analysis

Compression garments effectively enhance recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage by reducing delayed onset muscle soreness, muscle strength, muscle power, and creatine kinase levels.

The Effects of Compression Garments on Recovery

Wearing compression tights after drop-jump training may reduce muscle damage and perceived soreness, but no performance benefits were observed.

The Effects Of Contrast With Compression Therapy On Muscle Recovery Post Exercise

Combining contrast with compression therapy after exercise improves muscular performance and reduces swelling in recreationally trained individuals.

Bringing light into the dark: effects of compression clothing on performance and recovery.

Compression clothing may enhance athletic performance and recovery, particularly in vertical-jump exercise, with small to moderate effects.

Dynamic Compression Enhances Pressure-to-Pain Threshold in Elite Athlete Recovery: Exploratory Study

Peristaltic pulse dynamic compression (PPDC) effectively enhances recovery in elite athletes after aggressive training, improving their pressure-to-pain threshold.

The Effects of Compression-Garment Pressure on Recovery After Strenuous Exercise.

Higher pressure compression garments improve muscle function recovery after exercise-induced muscle damage.

Influence of compression therapy on symptoms following soft tissue injury from maximal eccentric exercise.

Compression sleeve use after maximal eccentric exercise effectively prevents loss of elbow motion, decreases perceived soreness, reduces swelling, and promotes recovery of force production.

Vascular Occlusion and Sequential Compression for Recovery After Resistance Exercise

Vascular occlusion and sequential intermittent pneumatic compression are not effective in reducing muscle performance loss after fatiguing resistance exercise compared to passive recovery.

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