The Efficacy of Compression Garments on Recovery from a Simulated Rugby Protocol.

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of lower limb compression garments on recovery in club level rugby players. Nineteen participants (age, 20.3 ± 1.7 years, height, 184.2 ± 7.5 cm and body mass, 89.5 ± 9.9 kg) completed a rugby specific, muscle damaging protocol before being assigned to a compression garment group (n = 10) or a SHAM ("recovery" drink) treatment (n = 9). The compression group wore the garments for 48 h post-exercise, while SHAM consumed a sweetened, low energy drink within an hour of protocol completion. Perceived muscle soreness (PMS), Creatine Kinase (CK), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and countermovement jump height (CMJ) were measured at baseline, post, 24 and 48 h post-exercise. Perceived muscle soreness was significantly lower in the compression group compared to SHAM at both 24 and 48 h post-exercise (p ≤ 0.05). The compression group was also subject to lower CK values than SHAM, as demonstrated by a significant time by group effect (p ≤ 0.05). There was no significant group effect for MVIC or CMJ (p > 0.05). Wearing compression garments following a rugby specific, muscle damaging protocol appears to reduce PMS and circulating concentrations of CK, suggesting improved recovery from muscle damaging exercise.