ORIGINAL ARTICLES  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2015 December;55(12):1497-501

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Changes in tissue oxygen saturation with calf compression sleeve: before, during and after a cycling exercise

Boucourt B. ¹, Bouhaddi M. ^{1, 5}, Mourot L. ^{2, 4}, Tordi N. ^{3, 4}, Menetrier A. ¹ ✉

¹ Marqueurs Pronostiques et Facteurs de Régulations des Pathologies Cardiaques et Vasculaires, Plateforme Exercice Performance Santé Innovation, University of Franche‑Comté, Besançon, France; ² Laboratoire Culture Sport Santé Société, Plateforme Exercice Performance Santé Innovation, University of Franche‑Comté, Besançon, France; ³ Fonctions et Dysfonctions Epithéliales, Plateforme Exercice Performance Santé Innovation, University of Franche‑Comté, Besançon, France; ⁴ Centre d’Investigation Clinique INSERM CIT 808, CHRU de Besançon, France; ⁵ Physiologie‑Exploration Fonctionnelles, CHRU de Besançon, France

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) with calf compression sleeves, before, during and after a cycling exercise.
METHODS: Eleven athletes came to the laboratory two times, to complete the same session with or without calf compression sleeves, in a randomized order. The session included a 15-min incremental cycling exercise: 3 min at each intensity — 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 W, preceded (baseline) and followed (recovery) by a 10-min period at rest in seated position. Calf StO2 was recorded using near infrared spectroscopy during the three last min of the baseline period, during the cycling exercise and during the recovery period.
RESULTS: Baseline StO2 was significantly increased with the compression sleeves (P<0.001; +24.8±3.5%). During the cycling exercise, StO2 was significantly increased with the compression sleeves only at 40 W (P<0.05; +8.2±3.7%) and 80 W (P<0.05; +7.9±3.7%). At 120 W (P=0.23; +5.0±4.0%), 160 W (P=0.38; +3.9±4.1%) and 200 W (P=0.81; -0.1±4.9%), no significant difference was found with compression sleeves. During the recovery period, StO2 was significantly increased with the compression sleeves (1 to 10 min: P<0.001; +10.5±1.3%).
CONCLUSION: This study shows that wearing calf compression sleeves increases StO2 at rest (before and after an exercise) and at low intensities in cycling (40 W and 80 W). At high intensities (120 W and more), compression sleeves is not useful to increase StO2.