Key Takeaway
Meta-analysis of 23 studies finds compression garments provide small-to-moderate benefits for recovery of strength, power, and endurance performance, with effects varying by exercise type and compression pressure.
Summary
Brown and colleagues conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis examining the effects of compression garments on recovery from exercise across 23 studies. This analysis expanded on earlier work by including a broader range of outcome measures -- strength, power, and endurance performance -- as well as physiological markers of recovery such as creatine kinase and lactate.
The results demonstrated small-to-moderate beneficial effects of compression garments on recovery of strength, power, and subsequent endurance performance. Importantly, the magnitude of these effects varied depending on the type of exercise performed, the specific recovery outcome measured, and the compression pressure applied. Higher pressures did not necessarily produce better outcomes, suggesting an optimal pressure range exists for recovery benefits.
The meta-analysis also found that compression garments were more effective for recovery from resistance exercise and high-intensity activities compared to endurance exercise. The authors proposed that the mechanisms underlying these benefits include enhanced venous return, reduced muscle oscillation, improved lymphatic drainage, and decreased post-exercise edema. These findings provide practitioners with evidence that compression garments are a low-risk, practical recovery tool, though individual responses may vary and the optimal protocol (pressure, duration, timing) requires further investigation.