Compression socks and the effects on coagulation and fibrinolytic activation during marathon running

Purpose: Compression socks are frequently used in the treatment and prevention of lower-limb pathologies; however, when combined with endurance-based exercise, the impact of compression socks on haemostatic activation remains unclear. Objectives: To investigate the effect of wearing compression socks on coagulation and fibrinolysis following a marathon. Methods: Sixty-seven participants [43 males (mean ± SD: age: 46.7 ± 10.3 year) and 24 females (age: 40.0 ± 11.0 year)] were allocated into a compression (SOCK, n = 34) or control (CONTROL, n = 33) group. Venous blood samples were obtained 24 h prior to and immediately POST-marathon, and were analyzed for thrombin–anti-thrombin complex (TAT), tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), and D-Dimer. Results: Compression significantly attenuated the post-exercise increase in D-Dimer compared to the control group [median (range) SOCK: + 9.02 (− 0.34 to 60.7) ng/mL, CONTROL: + 25.48 (0.95–73.24) ng/mL]. TF increased following the marathon run [median (range), SOCK: + 1.19 (− 7.47 to 9.11) pg/mL, CONTROL: + 3.47 (− 5.01 to 38.56) pg/mL] in all runners. No significant post-exercise changes were observed for TAT and TFPI. Conclusions: While activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis was apparent in all runners POST-marathon, wearing compression socks was shown to reduce fibrinolytic activity, as demonstrated by lower D-Dimer concentrations. Compression may reduce exercise-associated haemostatic activation when completing prolonged exercise

Compression socks reduce Running-Induced intestinal damage

Zadow, EK, Edwards, KH, Kitic, CM, Fell, JW, Adams, MJ, Singh, I, Kundur, A, Johnstone, ANB, Crilly, J, Bulmer, AC, Halson, SL, and, and Wu, SSX. Compression socks reduce running-induced intestinal damage. J Strength Cond Res 36(9): 2461–2464, 2022—Exercise is associated with a reduction in splanchnic blood flow that leads to the disruption of intestinal epithelium integrity, contributing to exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome. Strategies that promote intestinal blood flow during exercise may reduce intestinal damage, which may be advantageous for subsequent recovery and performance. This study aimed to explore if exercise-associated intestinal damage was influenced by wearing compression garments, which may improve central blood flow. Subjects were randomly allocated to wear compression socks (n = 23) or no compression socks (control, n = 23) during a marathon race. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before and immediately after marathon and analyzed for intestinal fatty acid–binding protein (I-FABP) concentration as a marker of intestinal damage. The magnitude of increase in postmarathon plasma I-FABP concentration was significantly greater in control group (107%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 72–428%) when compared with runners wearing compression socks (38%; 95% CI, 20–120%; p = 0.046; d = 0.59). Wearing compression socks during a marathon run reduced exercise-associated intestinal damage. Compression socks may prove an effective strategy to minimize the intestinal damage component of exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome