Graduated compression stockings for runners: friend, foe, or fake?
Publication year
2013Source
Journal of Athletic Training, 48, 2, (2013), pp. 226-32ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Dermatology
Journal title
Journal of Athletic Training
Volume
vol. 48
Issue
iss. 2
Page start
p. 226
Page end
p. 32
Subject
N4i 4: Auto-immunity, transplantation and immunotherapyAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of graduated compression stockings (GCS) on lower leg volume and leg complaints in runners during and after exercise. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre and an outdoor running track in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen Dutch trained recreational runners. INTERVENTION(S): Participants used a GCS on 1 leg during running. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Lower leg volume of both legs was measured at baseline, directly after running, and at 5 minutes and 30 minutes after running using a validated perometer. (2) Leg complaints were reported on questionnaires at set intervals. RESULTS: (1) In both experiments, the legs with GCS showed a reduction in mean (+/- SEM) leg volume directly after running, as compared with the leg without GCS: -14.1 +/- 7.6 mL (P = .04) for the 10-km running track and -53.5 +/- 17.8 mL (P = .03) for the maximum exercise test. This effect was not observed at 5 and 30 minutes after running. (2) No differences in leg complaints were reported in either experiment. CONCLUSIONS: The GCS prevented an increase in leg volume just after the running exercise. However, this result was not accompanied by a reduction in subjective questionnaire-reported leg complaints. The practical consequences of the present findings need further study.
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Academic publications [227901]
- Electronic publications [107368]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [86237]
- Open Access publications [76499]
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