The effects of compression stockings on the energetics and biomechanics during walking

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore how compression stockings affect the energetics and biomechanics during walking.

Methods: Sixteen male adults participated in this study. Participants completed walking trials on the treadmill and force plates, wearing compression stockings (CS) or nothing as a control condition (CON). The data obtained included metabolic rate, muscle activation, step frequency and step length as well as their variability, joint kinematics and joint kinetics.

Results: The effect of compression stockings on metabolic rate was trivial (CS: 3.81 ± 0.44 W kg^-1, CON: 3.83 ± 0.46 W kg^-1, p = 0.84, d = 0.05). Activation of calf muscles, step frequency and step length as well as their variability, joint range of motion and joint powers did not show a significant difference between conditions (p = 0.09-0.90, d = 0.01-0.34). The peak knee extension moment during the early stance phase had a tendency to increase (CS: 0.57 ± 0.27 N m kg^-1, CON: 0.51 ± 0.28 N m kg^-1, p = 0.05, d = 0.19) while the peak knee flexion moment during the late swing phase had a tendency to decrease (CS: 0.16 ± 0.10 N m kg^-1, CON: 0.19 ± 0.12 N m kg^-1, p = 0.10, d = 0.21). The peak ankle dorsiflexion moment during the early stance phase significantly increased (CS: 0.11 ± 0.06 N m kg^-1, CON: 0.08 ± 0.05 N m kg^-1, p = 0.02, d = 0.58) while the peak ankle plantar flexion moment during the late swing phase significantly decreased (CS: 1.41 ± 0.12 N m kg^-1, CON: 1.47 ± 0.14 N m kg^-1, p = 0.02, d = 0.45).

Conclusions: Compression stockings have a limited effect on improving energetics of walking, but they may play a role in improving biomechanics by altering the relative contribution of knee and ankle moments to propulsion.

Keywords: Compression garment; Kinematics; Kinetics; Metabolic cost; Muscle activation.