Compression Garments and Recovery From Exercise - A Meta Analysis

Background: Adequate recovery from exercise is essential to maintain performance throughout training and competition. While compression garments (CG) have been demonstrated to accelerate recovery, the literature is clouded by conflicting results and uncertainty over the optimal conditions of use. Objectives: A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of compression garments on the recovery of strength, power and endurance performance following an initial bout of resistance, running, or non-load bearing endurance (metabolic) exercise. Methods: Change-score data were extracted from 23 peer-reviewed studies on healthy participants. Recovery was quantified by converting into standardized mean effect sizes (ES [± 95% confidence interval (CI)]). The effects of time (0-2 h, 2-8 h, 24 h, > 24 h), pressure (≤ 15 mmHg Vs. > 15 mmHg) and training status (trained Vs. untrained) were also assessed. Results: Compression garments demonstrated small, very likely benefits (p < 0.001, ES = 0.38 [95% CI 0.25, 0.51]), which were not influenced by pressure (p = 0.06) or training status (p = 0.64). Strength recovery was subject to greater benefits than other outcomes (p < 0.001, ES = 0.62 [95% CI 0.39, 0.84]), displaying large, very likely benefits at 2-8 h (p < 0.001, ES = 1.14 [95% CI 0.72, 1.56]) and > 24 h (p < 0.001, ES = 1.03 [95% CI 0.48, 1.57]). Recovery from using CG was greatest following resistance exercise (p < 0.001, ES = 0.49 [95% CI 0.37, 0.61]), demonstrating the largest, very likely benefits at > 24 h (p < 0.001, ES = 1.33 [95% CI 0.80, 1.85]). Recovery from metabolic exercise (p = 0.01) was significant, although large, very likely benefits emerged only for cycling performance at 24 h post-exercise (p = 0.01, ES = 1.05 [95% CI 0.25, 1.85]). Conclusion: The largest benefits resulting from CG were for strength recovery from 2-8 h, and > 24 h. Considering exercise modality, compression most effectively enhanced recovery from resistance exercise, particularly at time-points > 24 h. The use of CG would also be recommended to enhance next-day cycling performance. The benefits of CG in relation to applied pressures and participant training status are unclear and limited by the paucity of reported data. Key Points • Small, significant and very likely benefits on exercise recovery can be achieved through use of compression garments (CG). • The greatest benefits from CG are evident in recovery of strength performance and from resistance exercise, which may imply that CG ameliorate muscle damage. • Next day cycling performance was also subject to large very likely benefits following the use of CG.