Changes in Tissue Oxygen Saturation with Well- and Tight-Fitted Compression Sleeves During an Incremental Exercise on Treadmill

Effects of lower-limb compression garments on hemodynamics during walking or running remain unclear.
The purpose was to examine the changes in tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) with well- and tight-fitted compression sleeves - before, during and after an exercise on treadmill.
14 athletes came to the laboratory three times to complete the same session with or without well- (COMP) and tight-fitted (COMP) calf compression sleeves. The session included an incremental exercise on treadmill: 2 min at each intensity - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 km/h - each was preceded and followed by a 10-minute rest in a seated position. Calf StO2 was recorded using near infrared spectroscopy before, during and after the exercise.
StO2 significantly increased with COMP and COMP before ( 25.2 ± 2.7 % and .5 ± 2.7 %) and after the exercise ( 11.0 ± 1.5 % and .2 ± 1.7 %). StO2 also increased while walking but declined as the intensity progressed ( 14.6 ± 1.9 %, .7 ± 1.7 %, .5 ± 1.8 %, .1 ± 1.8 %, 5.2 ± 1.7, .1 ± 2.0 % and -1.3 ± 4.0 % with COMP vs. .3 ± 2.0 %, .5 ± 1.7 %, .0 ± 1.9 %, .9 ± 1.7 %, 2.9 ± 1.6 %, -0.2 ± 2.2 % and -6.5 ± 3.6 % with COMP). With COMP the significance phased out earlier (2 km/h vs. 4 km/h with COMP) and was altered at 7 km/h (while the effects were trivial with COMP). The differential was considered small compared to without (Cohen’s d = - 0.38; 95 % CI -5.46 to 4.69) and COMP (d = 0.27; 95 % CI -5.30 to 5.84).
This study gives ground to the hypothesis that wearing calf compression sleeves may be useful during prolonged efforts involving sections of low-velocity walks (i.e.