The Influence of Compression Socks During a Marathon on Exercise-Associated Muscle Damage

• Published in: Journal of sport rehabilitation 2019-09, Vol.28 (7), p.724-728
• Main Authors: Zaleski, Amanda L, Pescatello, Linda S, Ballard, Kevin D, Panza, Gregory A, Adams, William, Hosokawa, Yuri, Thompson, Paul D, Taylor, Beth A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Athletes; Biomarkers - blood; Compression therapy; Creatine Kinase - blood; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - injuries; Running - injuries; Stockings, Compression
• ISSN: 1056-6716; 1543-3072
• DOI: 10.1123/jsr.2018-0060

Compression socks have become increasingly popular with athletes due to perceived enhancement of exercise performance and recovery. However, research examining the efficacy of compression socks to reduce exercise-associated muscle damage has been equivocal, with few direct measurements of markers of muscle damage. To examine the influence of compression socks worn during a marathon on creatine kinase (CK) levels. A randomized controlled trial. 2013 Hartford Marathon, Hartford, CT. Adults (n = 20) randomized to control (CONTROL; n = 10) or compression sock (SOCK; n = 10) groups. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before, immediately after, and 24 hours following the marathon for the analysis of CK, a marker of muscle damage. Baseline CK levels did not differ between CONTROL (89.3 [41.2] U/L) and SOCK (100.0 [56.2] U/L) (P = .63). Immediately following the marathon (≤1 h), CK increased 273% from baseline (P < .001 for time), with no difference in exercise-induced changes in CK from baseline between CONTROL (+293.9 [278.2] U/L) and SOCK (+233.1 [225.3] U/L; P = .60 for time × group). The day following the marathon (≤24 h), CK further increased 1094% from baseline (P < .001 for time), with no difference in changes in CK from baseline between CONTROL (+ 1191.9 [1194.8] U/L) and SOCK (+889.1 [760.2] U/L; P = .53 for time × group). These similar trends persisted despite controlling for potential covariates such as age, body mass index, and race finishing time (Ps > .29). Compression socks worn during a marathon do not appear to mitigate objectively measured markers of muscle damage immediately following and 24 hours after a marathon.