Custom-Fitted Compression Garments Enhance Recovery From Muscle Damage in Rugby Players. Issue 1 (21st February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Freddy; Jeffries, Owen; Gissane, Conor; Howatson, Glyn; van Someren, Ken; Pedlar, Charles; Myers, Tony; Hill, Jessica A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of strength and conditioning research. Volume 36:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 212
• Page End: 219
• Publication Date: 2020-02-21
• Subjects: strength -- athlete -- rugby; Physical education and training -- Periodicals; Weight training -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Physical fitness -- Periodicals; 613.7
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003408
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1064-8011

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Brown, F, Jeffries, O, Gissane, C, Howatson, G, van Someren, K, Pedlar, C, Myers, T, and Hill, JA. Custom-fitted compression garments enhance recovery from muscle damage in rugby players. J Strength Cond Res 36(1): 212–219, 2022—to evaluate the effects of custom-fitted compression garments (CG) on recovery from muscle damage in rugby players. Forty-five players were tested for lower-body strength, power, and indices of muscle damage before completing a damaging protocol (20 × 20-m sprints with 5-m deceleration, 100 drop jumps). Players were randomly assigned to wear either custom-fitted (CF, n = 13), or standard-sized CG (SSG, n = 16), or to receive sham ultrasound therapy (CON, n = 16) immediately after exercise. Players were retested immediately, then after 24 and 48 hours. Strength recovery was significantly different between groups ( F = 2.7, p = 0.02), with only CF recovering to baseline values by 48 hours ( p = 0.973). Time × condition effects were also apparent for creatine kinase activity (χ 2 = 30.4, p < 0.001) and midthigh girth ( F = 3.7, p = 0.005), with faster recovery apparent in CF compared with both CON and SSG ( p < 0.05). Custom-fitted CG improved strength recovery and indices of muscle damage in rugby players, compared with controls and standard-sized garments. Athletes and coaches would be advised to use appropriately fitted CG to enhance strength recovery after damaging exercise.