Effects of graduated compression stockings on blood Compression Clothing and Wear for Men and Women, for Sports, Injury and Recovery

Effects of graduated compression stockings on blood

Science
By: Berry MJ, McMurray RG - Am J Phys Med 61(3):121-32

Source: Am J Phys Med 61(3):121-32
Title: Effects of graduated compression stockings on blood lactate following an exhaustive bout of exercise
Authors: Berry MJ, McMurray RG
Year: 1987
Type of reference: Controlled clinical trial
Garment type: Graduated compressive stockings, over the calf, designed to apply pressure of 18mmHg at the ankle and 8mmHg at the calf in a graduated fashion
No. of subjects: 12 high fit males
Summary of trial: Previous research has demonstrated an increased venous blood flow and reduced venous pooling in the lower extremities of subjects wearing graduated compression stockings (GCS)
Based on this, hypothesized that the increased venous blood flow provided for by wearing GCS would be beneficial during exercise – increased venous blood flow could aid in removal of metabolites produced by working muscle
Aim of experiment was to determine effects of wearing graduated compression stockings (GCS) on the exercise response.
Series of two experiments

6 subjects performed 2 tests of max oxygen consumption (VO2max) on a treadmill with and without GCS
6 subjects performing 3 separate 3 min tests – a) GCS worn during test and recovery; b) GCS worn only during test; c) GCS not worn at all

Results of both experiments showed that wearing GCS during exercise and recovery lead to:

a decrease in post exercise venous lactate concentrations / lower blood lactate concentration following maximal exercise

Other points of interest in discussion in this paper:
A large body of data available which documents the response of post-operative bedridden individuals when wearing GCS (1. Nilsen D et al, Graded pressure stockings in prevention of deep vein thrombosis following total hip replacement. Acta Chir. Scand.,150:531-534, 1984; 2. O’Donnell T et al Effect of elastic compression on venous hemodynamics in postphlebitic lims. JAMA, 242:2766-68, 1979; 3. Partsch H, Do we need firm compression stockings exerting high pressure? Vasa, 13:52-57, 1984; 4. Sigel B et al Type of compression for reducing venous stasis: A study of lower extremities during inactive recumbency. Arch. Surg., 110:171-175, 1975; 5. Willie-Jorensen P et al. Heparin with and without graded compression stockings in the prevention of thromboembolic complications of major abdominal surgery: A randomized trial. Br. J. Surg., 72:579-81, 1985). These studies performed to determine if wearing GCS reduced incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis. Results from these studies show that wearing GCS does reduce incidence of deep vein thrombosis by increasing velocity of femoral blood flow, thereby reducing pooling of blood in the soleal sinuses and valve cusps (Lawrence D, Kakkar VV, Graduated, static, external compression of the lower limb: a physiological assessment. Br. J. Surg. 67:119-121, 1980).

Lewis et al (Elastic compression in the prevention of venous stasis: A critical reevaluation. Am. J. Surg., 132:739-743, 1976) found that improperly fitted GCS delayed venous emptying due to tourniquet effect of the GCS. They suggest that fit is of critical importance and that a sufficient selection of sizes be available in order to insure proper fit.