EFFECT OF ELASTIC COMPRESSION STOCKING ON CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES AND PERCEIVED EXERTION DURING WALKING AND RECOVERY

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of elastic compression stocking (ECS) on
cardiovascular responses and perceived exertion in adult male including heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV),
cardiac output (CO), end diastolic volume (EDV), ejection fraction (EF) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE).
Sixteen male healthy persons who randomly selected to wear the ECS or not wear the ECS condition
participated in this study. All subjects performed 2 trials, with and without wearing the ECS. Each trial consists
of resting for 10 minutes, walking on treadmill at 3.5 mph with 10% of incline for 45 minutes and recovery for
15 minutes continuously with a week apart. All parameters between trials were compared at every 5 minutes
consecutively. Two-way repeated-measure ANOVA did not reveal any statistically significant differences
among HR, SV, CO, EDV and EF between two conditions and any time sequences. However, the RPE during
walking with the ECS condition was significantly lower (p<0.05) than without the ECS condition. In conclusion,
the results suggest that the ECS wearing may affect the subjective feeling response which represent by the
lower RPE score. Additionally, to explain how compression stockings/garments affect the physical
performance, investigation in the topic how does the effects of ECS on cardiovascular or physiological
responses need to be determined in further study.
(Journal of Sports Science and Technology 2016; 16(2) : 57-66)
KEY WORDS: leg compression stocking, cardiac output monitoring device, rating of perceived exertion