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Article by Infofit

Compression Garments For Exercise Induced Muscle Damage Recovery

Compression garments decreased muscle function and/or muscle damage.

Treating Muscle Damage and Recovery with Compression Garments

Fitness professionals have included cold therapy or Ice baths for years to prevent muscle soreness, and have been known to treat muscle damage and recovery with the juice from tart cherries. They are now looking for additional ways to treat inflammation.

Exercise-induced muscle damage, commonly known as EIMD, is experienced during athletic training and competition. Typically compression garments are seen to treat deep venous thrombosis and venous insufficiency. The comfort of wearing compression garments during exercise training has been adopted by pro athletes to alleviate inflammation.  It is seen as a highly popular treatment, especially during EIMD, delayed onset muscle soreness known as DOMS, and to reduce gastrocnemius vain diameter or lower leg volume. All these are geared to speed recovery.

Athletes Had a Mild Reduction in DOMS

Various types of compression garments have been investigated to treat and reduce the effects of EIMD including 12 studies, where 205 participants were involved. The researchers learned that when compression garments were worn during or after intense physical exercise, the athletes had a mild reduction in DOMS (delayed onset of muscle soreness), considerable reduction in strength, power and accelerated recovery of muscle function.

Improve an Athlete’s Comfort But Not Muscle Repair and Recovery

Fitness professionals should note that implications of wearing a compression garment during athletic training for both recreational and elite athletes decreased muscle function and/or muscle damage and considered help speed the athlete return to training. However, cyclists, distance runners or any endurance athlete is known to likely train despite pain or muscle soreness; the decreased pain, swelling and inflammation can improve an athlete’s comfort but unfortunately, not muscle repair and recovery.

Reference:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pu/?term=hill+j+br+j+sports+med+2013