Affiliations: [a] University of Brasília, Brasília, DF,
Brazil | [b] California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA | [c] Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, RS,
Brazil | [d] Catholic University of Brasília,
Brasília, Brazil
Note: [] Corresponding author: Maria Cardoso Pereira, College of Physical
Education, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília-DF,
70.919-970, Brazil. Tel.: +55 61 3107 2526; E-mail:
mariaclaudiacarpe@yahoo.com.br
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Athletes often wear compression sleeves, yet studies on
their effects are lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of
compression sleeves worn during exercise on muscle recovery following exercise.
METHODS: Twenty-two resistance trained men were randomly assigned to
either a compression sleeve (GCS, n=11) or placebo sleeve (GPS, n=11) group.
They performed 4 sets of 10 isokinetic eccentric/concentric elbow flexion
repetitions. Isometric peak torque, muscle activation, echo intensity and
perceived muscle soreness were measured at baseline, immediately after and 24,
48, 72 and 96~hours post exercise. Blood CK samples were obtained at baseline,
48 and 96 hours post exercise. RESULTS: There were no significant interactions or main effects for
group regarding any of the variables (P > 0.05). There were main effects for
time for all variables except muscle activation. Isometric peak torque
immediately after and 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were all significantly less than
baseline. Echo intensity immediately after was significantly greater than
baseline. Perceived muscle soreness at 48 h was greater than baseline. CK
levels at 48 and 96 hours were greater than baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The use of compression sleeves is not recommended for
the alleged enhancement of muscle recovery following upper body high-intensity
exercise in young resistance-trained men.
Keywords: Elbow flexion, post-exercise, damage marker, resistance, training
