Effects of Compressive Stockings and Standard Stockings in Skin Temperature and Pressure Pain Threshold in Runners with Functional Ankle Equinus Condition.

OBJECTIVE

To assess clinical differences in the Achilles tendons of runners with ankle equinus wearing either compressive or standard stockings.

DESIGN

Case⁻control study.

METHODS

In this study, we conducted clinical examinations of 98 sportsmen (runners) with equinus, before and after 30 min of running on a treadmill; 49 runners wore compressive stockings and 49 wore standard stockings. Clinical assessments of the runners' Achilles tendons were based on the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and skin temperature analysis.

RESULTS

Achilles tendon evaluations identified significant differences in skin temperature modification and PPT between the compressive and standard stocking groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our findings, we propose that higher skin temperatures are associated with lower pressure pain thresholds in the Achilles tendons of runners with ankle equinus.