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. 2023 Jul;12(4):513-522.
doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2021.07.010. Epub 2021 Jul 24.

Sports compression garments improve resting markers of venous return and muscle blood flow in male basketball players

Shane F O'Riordan  1 , Rod McGregor  2 , Shona L Halson  3 , David J Bishop  4 , James R Broatch  5
Affiliations

Sports compression garments improve resting markers of venous return and muscle blood flow in male basketball players

Shane F O'Riordan et al. J Sport Health Sci. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Background: The benefits associated with sports compression garments are thought to be closely related to enhanced blood flow. However, findings are equivocal, possibly due to heterogeneity in the techniques used for measuring blood flow, the garment types used, and the pressures applied. This study combined Doppler ultrasound and near-infrared spectroscopy technologies to provide the first comprehensive assessment of the effects of 3 sports compression garment types on markers of venous return and muscle blood flow at rest.

Methods: Resting lower-limb blood flow measures (markers of venous return, muscle blood flow, and muscle oxygenation) of 22 elite, junior, male basketball players (age = 17.2 ± 0.9 years, mean ± SD) were assessed in 4 separate conditions: no compression (CON), compression tights (TIGHTS), compression shorts (SHORTS), and compression socks (SOCKS). Markers of venous return (cross-sectional area, time-averaged mean and peak blood flow velocity, and venous blood flow) were measured via Doppler ultrasound at the popliteal and common femoral veins. Muscle blood flow and muscle oxygenation were measured in the gastrocnemius medialis and vastus lateralis using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Results: Popliteal markers of venous return were higher in TIGHTS compared to CON (p < 0.01) and SHORTS (p < 0.01), with SOCKS values higher compared with CON (p < 0.05). Common femoral vein markers of venous return were higher for all conditions compared to CON (p < 0.05), with TIGHTS values also higher compared to SOCKS (p < 0.05). Gastrocnemius medialis blood flow was higher for TIGHTS compared to CON (p = 0.000), SOCKS (p = 0.012), and SHORTS (p = 0.000), with SOCKS higher compared to SHORTS (p = 0.046). Vastus lateralis blood flow was higher for TIGHTS compared to CON (p = 0.028) and SOCKS (p = 0.019), with SHORTS also higher compared to CON (p = 0.012) and SOCKS (p = 0.005). Gastrocnemius medialis oxygenation was higher for TIGHTS compared to CON (p = 0.003), SOCKS (p = 0.033), and SHORTS (p = 0.003), with SOCKS higher compared to CON (p = 0.044) and SHORTS (p = 0.032). Vastus lateralis oxygenation was higher for TIGHTS compared to CON (p = 0.020) and SOCKS (p = 0.006).

Conclusion: Markers of venous return, muscle blood flow, and muscle oxygenation are increased with sports compression garments. TIGHTS are most effective, potentially because of the larger body area compressed.

Keywords: Arterial perfusion; Lower-limb compression; Pressure; Venous flow.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests SFO, JRB, SLH, and DJB received a research grant from compression manufacturer 2XU (Melbourne, Australia), which also supported SFO and JRB. RM was externally sourced to conduct ultrasound measurement and has no conflict of interest. 2XU had no input into the study design, the collection and analysis of data, the writing of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the article for publication. None of the authors has any financial or other interest in the production and/or distribution of 2XU products.

Figures

Image, graphical abstract
Graphical abstract
Fig 1
Fig. 1
Landmarks where garment pressures were measured for SOCKS (A−C), SHORTS (D−F), and TIGHTS (A−F). A: 5 cm proximal to the distal border of the medial malleolus; B: 5 cm proximal to A; C: medial aspect of the maximal calf circumference; D: anterior aspect of the thigh 10 cm below landmark E; E: midpoint between the inguinal crease and the superior-posterior border of the patella; and F: 5 cm proximal to Landmark E. SHORTS = compression shorts; SOCKS = compression socks; TIGHTS = compression tights.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Popliteal vein markers of venous return for each sports compression garment condition. Markers measured include (A) CSA, (B) Vmean, (C) Vpeak, and (D) venous blood flow. Bars are the mean ± SD. Individual colored data points indicate individual participants. * p < 0.05, significant condition effect; # p < 0.01, significant effect compared to SHORTS; † p < 0.05, significant effect compared to CON. a Small effect compared to CON; b Medium effect compared to CON; c Small effect compared to SHORTS; d Medium effect compared to SOCKS. CON = no compression; CSA = cross-sectional area; SHORTS = compression shorts; SOCKS = compression socks; TIGHTS = compression tights; Vmean = mean flow velocity; Vpeak = peak flow velocity.
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Common femoral vein markers of venous return for each sports compression garment condition. Markers measured include (A) CSA, (B) Vmean, (C) Vpeak, and (D) venous blood flow. Bars are the mean ± SD. Individual coloured data points indicate individual participants. * p < 0.05, significant condition effect; † p < 0.05, significant effect compared with CON; ‡ p < 0.05, significant effect compared with SOCKS. a Small effect compared with CON; b Medium effect compared with CON. CON = no compression; CSA = cross-sectional area; SHORTS = compression shorts; SOCKS = compression socks; TIGHTS = compression tights; Vmean = mean flow velocity; Vpeak = peak flow velocity.
Fig 4
Fig. 4
Muscle blood flow (mL/min/100 g) to the gastrocnemius medialis (calf) and vastus lateralis (thigh) muscles for the CON and sports compression garment conditions (SOCKS, SHORTS, and TIGHTS). Bars are the mean ± SD. Individual colored data points indicate individual participants. * p < 0.01, significant condition effect; # p < 0.05, significant effect compared with SHORTS; † p < 0.05, significant effect compared with CON; ‡ p < 0.05, significant effect compared with SOCKS; § p < 0.05, significant effect compared with all other conditions. a Medium effect compared with CON. CON = no compression; CSA = cross-sectional area; SHORTS = compression shorts; SOCKS = compression socks; TIGHTS = compression tights.
Fig 5
Fig. 5
Muscle oxygenation (%) of the gastrocnemius medialis (calf) and vastus lateralis (thigh) muscles for the CON and sports compression garment conditions (SOCKS, SHORTS, and TIGHTS). Bars are the mean ± SD. Individual colored data points indicate individual participants. * p < 0.01, significant condition effect; # p < 0.05, significant effect as compared with SHORTS; † p < 0.05, significant effect as compared with CON; ‡ p < 0.05, significant effect as compared with SOCKS; § p < 0.05, significant effect as compared with all other conditions. CON = no compression; CSA = cross-sectional area; SHORTS = compression shorts; SOCKS = compression socks; TIGHTS = compression tights.
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