20 experienced runners had to run a mile on a treadmill – once with compression socks, once without. The socks are claimed to improve blood circulation and reduce muscle damage, but there is little scientific evidence.
“There have been a few studies in the past on the effect of compression stockings, but the results have been contradictory. Our study is the first where the oxygenation and the pressure inside the muscle have been measured before, during and after running,” says Sophia Halldin Lindorsson, at Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg university, which has written the thesis.
The study found that lower leg oxygenation actually decreased for the runners who wore compression stockings, compared to when they ran without. There is no evidence that the socks would increase the performance of the wearer.
“We took blood samples both before and after the run, and could see no reduction in muscle damage markers when using compression stockings,” says Sophia Halldin Lindorsson, adding:
“This finding, together with the reduced oxygenation in the musculature, strengthens previous theories that compression stockings do not provide any performance-enhancing effect in healthy subjects.”