More on Compression Socks

I’ve been watching the profusion of race participants wearing compression socks over the past year with some interest. As always when the numbers participating in a new trend are low, the trend looks geeky. As the numbers increase, we assume the trend is valid. So, I’ve been wondering about these compression socks. You may have noticed an earlier blog entry where I pondered their efficacy. At that time, my only source of information was compression sock packaging and the odd article in running magazines.

Recently I was able to discover a couple of research articles reviewing recent experiments done with compression socks and athletes. Back in 2007 an article was published in The Journal of Sports Science that concluded that the most important effect of wearing compression socks was to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness.

Here are the conclusions quoted from the study by A. Ali; M. P. Caine ; B. G. Snow, titled “Graduated compression stockings: Physiological and perceptual responses
during and after exercise” as it appeared in the Journal of Sports Sciences.

"In summary, wearing graduated compression
stockings during fast-paced, continuous road running
reduces muscular soreness of the lower limbs
after exercise. The mechanism by which this reduction
is achieved remains uncertain, although a
reduction in muscle soreness may result from
reduced structural damage and/or reduced localized
ischaemia. In physically active young men, at least,
graduated compression stockings are perceived to be
comfortable to wear and heighten perceptual feelings
during and after exercise. We were unable to confirm
whether there was an improved venous return during
exercise, although a trend towards reduced heart rate
during continuous road running suggests that this is
possible and thus warrants further research. Furthermore,
there is a need for research investigating
whether graduated compression stockings can benefit
other user groups including untrained participants,
female and older athletes."

Let me know if you have heard anything else!