Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jul;122(7):1709-1722.
doi: 10.1007/s00421-022-04953-z. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Effects of an external pneumatic compression device vs static compression garment on peripheral circulation and markers of sports performance and recovery

Julia C Blumkaitis  1 , Jessica M Moon  1 , Kayla M Ratliff  1 , Richard A Stecker  1 , Scott R Richmond  1 , Kyle L Sunderland  1 , Chad M Kerksick  1 , Jeffrey S Martin  2 , Petey W Mumford  3
Affiliations

Effects of an external pneumatic compression device vs static compression garment on peripheral circulation and markers of sports performance and recovery

Julia C Blumkaitis et al. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022 Jul.

Erratum in

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the effects of a single 30 min partial lower leg external pneumatic compression (EPC) treatment compared to a static compression (SC) garment or a no treatment control (CTL) on markers of recovery and performance following a muscle damaging protocol.

Methods: Thirty healthy, active males (23 ± 3 years; 180.2 ± 9.0 cm; 81.6 ± 11.3 kg) performed 100 drop jumps from a 0.6 m box followed by a randomized, single 30 min treatment of either a partial lower leg EPC device worn below the knee and above the ankle (110 mmHg), SC garment (20-30 mmHg) covering the foot and calf just below the knee, or no treatment CTL, and then returned 24 and 48 h later. Participants were assessed for measures of muscle soreness, fatigue, hemodynamics, blood lactate, muscle thickness, circumferences, and performance assessments.

Results: The drop jump protocol significantly increased muscle soreness (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.001), blood flow (p < 0.001), hemoglobin (p < 0.001), and muscle oxygen saturation (SMO2; p < 0.001). Countermovement jump and squat jump testing completed after treatment with either EPC, SC, or CTL revealed no differences for jump height between any condition. However, EPC treatment maintained consistent braking force and propulsive power measures across all timepoints for countermovement jump testing. EPC and SC treatment also led to better maintenance of squat jump performance for average relative propulsive force and power variables at 24 and 48 h compared to CTL.

Conclusions: A single 30 min partial leg EPC treatment may lead to more consistent jump performance following a damaging bout of exercise.

Keywords: Damage; Doppler ultrasound; Drop jumps; Force; Force plates; Partial external pneumatic compression; Power; Soreness and fatigue; Strength.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Book J, Prince CN, Villar R, Hughson RL, Peterson SD (2016) Investigating the impact of passive external lower limb compression on central and peripheral hemodynamics during exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 116(4):717–727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3331-0 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bringard A, Denis R, Belluye N, Perrey S (2006) Effects of compression tights on calf muscle oxygenation and venous pooling during quiet resting in supine and standing positions. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 46(4):548–554 - PubMed
    1. Casa DJ, Armstrong LE, Hillman SK, Montain SJ, Reiff RV, Rich BS, Roberts WO, Stone JA (2000) National Athletic Trainers’ Association position statement: fluid replacement for athletes. J Athl Train 35(2):212 - PubMed - PMC
    1. Cochrane DJ, Booker HR, Mundel T, Barnes MJ (2013) Does intermittent pneumatic leg compression enhance muscle recovery after strenuous eccentric exercise? Int J Sports Med 34(11):969–974. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1337944 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Denis R, Bringard A, Perrey S (2011) Vastus lateralis oxygenation dynamics during maximal fatiguing concentric and eccentric isokinetic muscle actions. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 21(2):276–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2010.12.006 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources