The Effects of Compression Sleeves on the Lactate Clearance Rate in Athletes After a 400 Meter Sprint

Jack Lipa and Nathalie Morales Department of Biological Science Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA 92692

This study investigated the physiological effects of compression sleeves on recovery after performing a 400 meter sprint. This experiment tested the hypothesis that wearing compression sleeves will increase the bLa removal rate following a 400 meter sprint. Nine subjects (six male and three female) mean age 22.88 ±.54 years completed a paired test running 400 meters with and without wearing compression calf sleeves. Subjects’ bLa levels and pulse oxygen saturation were observed at various intervals (before exercise, immediately following event, five minutes after event, twenty, forty, and sixty minutes after event). A rate of -0.157 ±0.0320 mmol/(L x min) lactate removal when wearing compression sleeves compared to a rate -0.193 ±0.0228 mmol/(L x min) without compression sleeves was found. A one-tailed, paired t-test analysis was performed. There is no statistical difference (p > 0.05). Blood oxygen saturation percentages were unaffected with percentages of 97.6 ± 0.194 with compression sleeves and 97.6 ± 0.05 without compression sleeves (p > 0.05). Because of our results, the hypothesis that wearing compression sleeves will increase bLa removal rate after a 400 meter sprint is rejected.

Introduction overheating. The specific location of the compression Most competitive athletes seek to find garment can slightly affect where these benefits are different methods to improve performance and give applied so any garment would likely need to be them a slight advantage over their opponents. specific to the individual athlete (Vanek 1998). Recently, the popularity of wearing compression Compression garments worn on the calf appear to garments in the athletic community has increased in have a slight benefit in increasing venous return and the belief that it aids in performance by protecting the thus may aid in the recovery process (Bringard 2006). athlete, preventing swelling, giving them warmth, In addition, some athletes swear by compression increasing circulation and adding to their intimidation garments’ ability to reduce fatigue and at the very factor. Compression garments have demonstrated least appears to offer a psychological benefit (by minimal improvements during repeated performances means of placebo effect) if worn by someone at high speeds in netball with slightly greater convinced of its effectiveness irrespective of any distances traveled at higher speeds (Higgins 2009). physiological changes. The placebo effect appears to This experiment tested the physiological changes that be significant in both positive and negative outcomes. occur when an athlete (someone who works out 3 or (Beedie 2009). Peak levels of lactate should be more times a week) wears the compression sleeve on observable at approximately five minutes following their lower extremities. Neoprene sleeves help “all-out” exercise lasting 30-120 seconds. Blood maintain intramuscular temperatures after exercise lactate (bLa) levels is a common parameter to (Miller 2013). This can help provide a cool-down observe in regards to performance exercise (Goodwin period for the muscles that should be accompanied by 2007). Based on previous studies, it seems reasonable rigorous workout. Compression garments can have to test the hypothesis that wearing compression the effect of providing higher local temperatures sleeves around the calves will increase bLa removal without affecting overall body temperature (Macrae rate, aiding in recovery following a 400 meter sprint. 2012). This can potentially be helpful for athletes Materials and Methods with injuries without the adverse effect of Measurements and Analysis Blood lactate concentrations were obtained by after the sprint (T20), 40 minutes after the sprint (T40), capillary prick of the medial side at the tip of the and 60 minutes after the sprint (T60). This process third and/or fourth fingers. Lactate Scout electronic was performed twice: once with the compression lactate reader was used as the analytical device. sleeve and on a separate day without. Lactate levels were read in millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Additionally, oxygen saturation was Three females and six male athletes volunteered to measured at the same intervals utilizing a portable participate in the study with the mean age of 22.88 pulse oximetry device (brand unknown) which read ±0.539 years. Athletes were the population of interest the results in Sp O2 %. Measurement of Sp O2 % since they would most likely utilize and benefit from served as a negative control. the use of compression sleeves. Athletes were defined as individuals who perform moderate to A paired, one-tailed T-test data analysis was extreme exercise for thirty minutes or more a day, performed via Windows 7 Excel. Blood lactate three or more days a week. Sprint focused athletes clearance rate was calculated by taking the difference would be desirable. However, a broader category of of the highest peak value and return to the athlete was selected because it made the process of approximate basal value at T60 divided by the obtaining subjects easier given the time constraints of difference of the time of the peak and 60 minutes completing the experiment (n=9). (mmol/ L x min). Clearance rate =(highest peak value - T60) / (time of peak relative to the end of the sprint Results -60). Blood lactate concentration is the most common analyte in regards to monitoring an athlete’s Garments and Environment recovery. The bLa levels declined at the average rate McDavid brand latex-free neoprene compression calf of -0.157 ±0.0320 mmol/(L x min) when the athletes sleeves measuring medium (14-15 inch) wore the compression sleeve. In comparison, when circumference or large (15-17 inch) circumference athletes did not wear the compression sleeve, bLa worn on each leg during the experimental condition. levels declined at the average rate of -0.193 ±0.0228 Subjects wore athletic shorts, running shoes and mmol/(L x min). The paired, one-tailed T-test athletic shirts in both the control and experimental analysis shows no statistical difference (p-value = conditions. Weather conditions (ranging from sunny 0.223) (Figure 1). to cloudy with little to no wind) and ambient temperature (range of 64-76 degrees Fahrenheit) There was no statistical difference in the blood were recorded using Android Google Application. oxygen saturation of the athletes throughout the trial. Time of testing was variable (between the hours of The average blood oxygen saturation percentage of 2:00pm-6:45pm). Subjects were tested in the all the athletes were measured to be 97.6 ± 0.194 afternoon in order to control for any time of day with the sleeves on, which is virtually the same effects that may have on athletic performance. Sites percentage when measured without the sleeves 97.6 of the experiment included the tracks of Saddleback ± 0.05 (Figure 2). Normal blood oxygen saturation College in Mission Viejo, CA and Katella High range is between 95-100%. Anything below 90% is School in Anaheim, CA as they provided a pre- considered low and indicative of hypoxemia. measured distance under favorable and consistent running conditions. Environmental conditions were subject to the convenience and the availability of the participants.

Running Performance and Participants To determine whether recovery rate is increased, bLa were measured at rest before any activity (basal state). Prior to the final sprint, athletes were instructed to complete a structured warm up consisting of a 4 minute jog accompanied by leg stretches in order to prevent injury and ensure optimal performance. Subjects were asked to run 400 meters around an outdoor track at maximal, “all out,” effort (as fast as subjects were able). Lactate levels were again measured immediately after the sprint (T0), five minutes after the sprint (T5), twenty minutes protons (H+) (Fittz 2003). As HLa dissociates, it is Figure 1. Blood lactate clearance rate showed in concluded that a decrease in pH would follow milimoles per liter per minute. There is no statistical because of the efflux of H+, especially in significance between the average rate of clearance physiological conditions during and after exercise. with or without the compression sleeve. (p- This low intramuscular pH is known as muscle value=.223 ±SEM). acidosis, causing fatigue. However, the presence of the lactate anion (La-) does little to alter the overall physiological pH (Stewart 1981). The overall acid-

Figure 2 Oxygen saturation measured in Sp O2 % base status of an individual depends on many other during recovery with and without compression factors such as weak acid buffer concentrations, like sleeves scatter plot with a line of best fit overlap (p- bicarbonate, and the strong ion difference (SID). SID value =0.364). is the difference of the sum of all the strong cations and the sum of all the strong anion. [SID]= ([Na+] + Discussion [K+] + [Ca2+]) − ([Cl−] + [La−]) (Kowalchuk 1988). The present study evaluated the effects of lower Previous studies showed that La− has little effect on extremity compression garments in an athlete’s muscle contractility in skinned mammalian muscles recovery following an “all out” 400 meter sprint. (5% or less). Furthermore, this is supported by other There was no physiological changes in bLa studies on skinned muscles fibers, showing a minimal clearance rate and blood oxygen saturation role of La− in the fatigue process (Posterino 2001). In discovered as the result of the experiment. The conclusion, HLa does play a role in muscle acidosis assumption of a direct relationship between the but it is not significant because of the acid-base clearance rate and the recovery rate of an athlete is buffer systems in the body that easily corrects the rejected based on the p-value score of 0.223 (p-value imbalance. > 0.05). However, this result was consistent with the literature of a similar study investigating the effects Even though there is no certain lactate metabolism of compression garments on physiological and pathway, none of the proposed mechanisms include performance measures in netball players (Higgins oxygen consumption in converting lactate to 2009). In addition, another study on twelve well- pyruvate. In summation, all mechanisms relied upon trained cyclists demonstrated limited physiological the use of an intracellular lactate shuttle and lactate benefits on twelve male subjects (Scanlan 2008). dehydrogenase (LDH) to convert lactate into There is a trend of increased clearance rate, but not a pyruvate by oxidation of NADH and transported significant difference. from the cytosol to the mitochondria (Gladden 2004). Oxygen is obsolete in this process. Cardiac muscle is The medical community has accepted the high levels the most active muscle type in bLa uptake as it is the of bLa concentrations to be the hallmark of O2 most oxidative tissue type, even compared to skeletal insufficiency (Mizock 1992). O2 insufficiency can muscle (Gladden 2004). The previous studies result in the decreased O2 venous pressure (PO2) showed an inverse relationship between bLa resulting in O2 -limited oxidative phosphorylation metabolism and glycolytic metabolism as a result in (Gladden 2004). Because of the evidence of lactate successfully competing against glucose as a increased blood flow when using compression carbohydrate source (Miller 2004). In an garments for medical purposes, it is assumed that the evolutionary standpoint, this is an adaptation to increased PO2 would lead to the increased oxygen conserve a major energy source while being efficient utilization in cell respiration during exercise. As the in “recycling” of what was once thought of as an muscles undergo cellular respiration, blood PO2 metabolic dead end. decreases and thereby limiting the O2-dependent oxidative phosphorylation, producing lactate. One of the limitations of the study was the relatively Increased production of lactate due to O2 -limited small sample size (n=9). Although there appeared to oxidative phosphorylation is termed as dysoxia be a reduced peak level of bLa under the (Gladden 2004). For the purposes of this experiment, experimental condition, this was statistically measuring pulse O2 saturation served as a negative insignificant because of the sparse number of blood control. No changes were observed but also none draws around the peak. Further studies may focus on were expected. Increased bLa production was variances among peak lactate levels and include believed to be the culprit for muscle fatigue and shorter and more frequent time intervals of lactate soreness. Lactic acid (HLa) is 99% dissociated at tests between 3-8 minutes after sprint when lactate physiological pH, producing lactate anion (La-) and levels are greatest following 30-120 seconds of intense exercise (Goodwin 2007). Further investigation could possibly control for variances in Higgins, Trevor, Geraldine A. Naughton, and Darren lactate production by selecting sprint specific athletes Burgess. 2009. Effects of Wearing Compression that would have a greater proportion of type IIb Garments on Physiological and Performance muscle fibers (fast glycolytic cells) and thus a greater Measures in a Simulated Game-Specific Circuit for anaerobic capacity compared to the varied athletic Netball. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport background selected (Teh 2014). Since lactate 12.1: 223-6. ProQuest. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. production represents a distinct metabolic pathway rather than simply occurring in the absence of Kowalchuk, JM; Heigenhauser, GJF; Lindinger, MI; oxygen, athletes with developed anaerobic utilization Sutton, JR; Jones, NL. 1988. Factors Influencing pathways would be more relevant for the event Hydrogen Ion Concentration in Muscle After Intense selected (Gladden 2004). This should produce a Exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology. larger peak in bLa levels and thus any variances 1988;65:2080–2089. 1988. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. could be more pronounced. 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Vanek, Vincent W. 1998. Meta-Analysis of Effectiveness of Intermittent Pneumatic Review Form

Department of Biological Sciences

Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA 92692

Author (s): Jack Lipa and Nathalie Morales

Title: The Effects of Compression Sleeves on the Lactate Clearance Rate in Athletes After a 400 Meter Sprint

Summary

Summarize the paper succinctly and dispassionately. Do not criticize here, just show that you understood the paper.

Experiment was gauged to determine whether or not a compression sleeve has an effect on blood lactate levels and oxygen saturation after subjects completed a 400 meter sprint. Investigators found there was no significant difference in blood lactate levels when the group wore the compression sleeve, and when the group did not wear the compression sleeve. This result is supported by a few previous experiments.

General Comments

Generally explain the paper’s strengths and weaknesses and whether they are serious, or important to our current state of knowledge.

Strengths: Everything but the discussion was well thought out and had a nice overall flow. Weaknesses: Discussion Section. The flow of the paper stops here and seems to struggle a bit.

This is a serious problem considering that the discussion is the last thing a person will read in your paper. Consider entirely rewriting it. Technical Criticism

Review technical issues, organization and clarity. Provide a table of typographical errors, grammatical errors, and minor textual problems. It's not the reviewer's job to copy Edit the paper, mark the manuscript.

1. Formatting in headers of each section

2. Spacing

3. A few issues with wording

4. Some redundancies

5. Some problems with the discussion in general.

This paper was a final version This paper was a rough draft

Recommendation

 This paper should be published as is

 This paper should be published with revision

 This paper should not be published

Signature: Joshua Curtis Date: 5/2/14

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