Study: Sports compression socks reduce fatigue in football players

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According to a new study, sport compression socks have been found to increase the endurance and agility of footballers’ legs.

Sport Compression Socks

Compression socks can be worn by athletes to increase blood flow in the legs. Research from James Cook University shows that wearing these socks had a positive impact on the endurance and agility of the legs during a football match.

The benefits were clearly higher with the compression stockings than with regular socks. They confirmed that there is a protective effect with compression stockings that may be crucial for performance in soccer matches. Dr. Leicht, James Cook University

The research also found that the compression socks were comfortable and that there was a low chance that they would hinder performance during a match. The effect still needs to be further investigated. Based on this research, however, the researchers already suggest that compression socks are a potentially performance-enhancing tool.

“Less Tiredness with Compression Socks”

The research showed that the calf muscles tired less quickly. Handy considering footballers often cover more than 10 kilometers per match, with more than 2.5 kilometers at speeds higher than 14 km/h (according to the researchers). In addition, they often have to change direction frequently, accelerate, and decelerate.

Soccer is a demanding sport in terms of fatigue-related muscle damage that can significantly influence match performance. Anything that can prevent or delay this damage and/or change in performance could be an advantage.

According to Dr. Leicht, compression socks can also have other benefits. He says that 57% of injuries on the football field are (partly) caused by fatigue. The sport compression socks could therefore be a simple method to also reduce the number of injuries. Previous research had already shown similar results, but in men and using different measurement methods.

The Study

20 female football players were randomly divided into two groups: One group wore compression socks and the second group wore normal socks as a control group. 48 hours before and immediately after the match, they performed various tests at rest (agility T-test, standing heel-rise, and YoYo intermittent Endurance Test). The agility T-test is a test where you have to sprint short distances, stop, change direction, and accelerate again. The standing heel-rise test is simply a calf raise without elevation. So you just stand on your toes. The YoYo test is also known as the ‘bleep test’ or ‘shuttle run’ in school gym classes. During the match itself, there was no difference between the two groups when researchers looked at heart rate and fatigue sensation. Performance during the YoYo test also decreased to the same extent in both groups (after the match compared to before the match). However, in the other two tests, the compression sock group performed significantly better after the match than the control group.

References

1. Larissa Neves Pavin, Anthony S. Leicht, Samuel Valencia Gimenes, Bruno Victor Corrêa da Silva, Mário Antônio de Moura Simim, Moacir Marocolo, Gustavo Ribeiro da Mota. Can compression stockings reduce the degree of soccer match-induced fatigue in females? Research in Sports Medicine, 2018; 1 DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2018.1527335