Acute and long term effect of compression stockings in athletes with venous insufficiency

Venous recirculation with subsequent capillary hypertension might influence oxidative muscle metabolism. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and its therapeutic correction by compression stockings on performance, lactate level and subjective complaints of long distance runners and cyclists. Volunteers, methods: An open prospective randomized 40 day cohort study recruiting 24 healthy runners (13 men, 11 women) and 20 cyclists (18 men, 2 women) was performed. According to the CEAP classification the runners' CVI was classified clinical stage C(2-4)E(c,p,S)A(S,P)P(R) the cyclists' CV1 C(2-3)E(P)A(S,P)P(R). For compression therapy individually tailored compression stockings (Venotrain Champion A-D compression class 2, Bauerfeind Germany) were used, and standardized treadmill (for runners) and bicycle ergometer (for cyclists) multilevel incremental test were performed including capillary lactate levels, and evaluation of pro and retrospective data by questionnaires. Results: There was no acute effect of medical compression therapy on performance, heart rate and lactate level comparing the results of exercise tests with and without compression stockings. Similarly, no significant difference was found between an exercise test without compression stockings and an exercise test with compression following a 4 week compression therapy. Compression therapy resulted in a significant reduction of complaints typical for CVI in everyday life and after training. Conclusion: An improvement of the performance of runners and cyclists with venous insufficiency was not demonstrated following acute or long term therapy with compression stockings. On the other hand the athletes' performance was not impaired by compression therapy. Subjectively there was a high benefit using compression stockings. Compression stockings should be recommended to athletes with venous insufficiency.