Author(s): LEWIS, S., KELLY, V., PEAKE, J., Institution: QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, Country: AUSTRALIA, Abstract-ID: 2074

INTRODUCTION:
Athletes commonly wear compression garments during and after exercise, in the belief that compression garments improve blood flow. However, relatively little is known about how compression garments influence central haemodynamics. This ongoing study investigates differences in resting stroke volume while wearing custom-fit compression garments (which are designed to apply more consistent pressure and gradient) compared with commercial off-the-shelf compression garments.
METHODS:
Using thoracic electrical bioimpedance, stroke volume in two body orientations—standing and supine—while wearing custom-fit tights, custom-fit calf sleeves, off-the-shelf tights, off-the-shelf calf sleeves, and no compression garment was measured. Testing has been completed on eight physically active participants (5F, 3M), with an average height, weight, and age of 166.5cm, 71.6kg, 33.6 years of age for females and 171.8cm, 92.8kg, and 30.3 years of age for males respectively. 13 more participants will be tested. To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying these observations, a secondary analysis of differences in pressure exerted by custom-fit and off-the-shelf compression garments is also being conducted. A pressure sensor is placed under the compression garments at the medial and posterior aspect of the greatest circumference of the lower leg and on the midpoint between the inguinal crease and the superior-posterior border of the patella.
RESULTS:
The preliminary findings indicate a notable increase in stroke volume while wearing custom-fit tights in the standing orientation compared with the other conditions. This improvement suggests enhanced cardiac efficiency via the Frank-Starling mechanism, whereby the heart achieves greater output per beat due to an increased venous return. Data also reveals that off-the-shelf calf sleeves exert the highest pressure but yield minimal stroke volume improvements. By contrast, despite covering less than half the surface area of off-the-shelf tights, custom-fit calf sleeves demonstrate a comparable stroke volume increase in the standing position.
CONCLUSION:
This work will provide important new insights into how compression garments influence central haemodynamics, and the variability between custom-fit and off-the-shelf compression garments. These data will improve understanding of how compression garments work physiologically and will inform decision-making about the most effective type of compression garment for athletes.