Gassier Robin, Espeit Loïc, Ravel Antoine, Beaudou Pierre, Trama Robin, Edouard Pascal, Thouze Arsène, Féasson Léonard, Hintzy Frédérique, Rossi Jérémy, Hautier Christophe
Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, LIBM, Villeurbanne, France.
Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France.
Front Sports Act Living. 2025 May 7;7:1516617. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1516617. eCollection 2025.
Soft tissue vibrations (STV) have been extensively researched for their effects on muscle fatigue and damage, but their influence during running remains unclear. As compression garments are known to lower STV, they have shown benefits on acute neuromuscular responses to downhill running. However, an in-depth analysis of changes in STV has never been proposed, and previous protocols did not overcome the repeated bout effect. This study aims to investigate whether compression shorts could reduce STV parameters and related neuromuscular impairments using a unilateral compression protocol.
Twenty healthy men performed a downhill run until exhaustion while wearing shorts that compressed one thigh with the contralateral leg serving as a control. Foot-ground impacts (FGI), STV, and muscle activation of the were measured on both legs while running using accelerometers to obtain FGI and STV, and surface electromyographic sensors (EMG) for muscle activation. Time-frequency analyses were applied to acceleration and EMG signals with statistical non-parametric mapping applied to the continuous data to assess time and compression effects. Neuromuscular parameters such as maximal voluntary contraction torque, voluntary activation, and torque evoked by 10 and 100 Hz doublet stimulation were assessed before, after, and 48 h post exercise, alongside perceived fatigue and muscle soreness. Mixed linear models and paired Student's t-tests were used to analyze neuromuscular outcomes.
While results showed that both FGI and STV magnitude increased during the run by 19.7% ( = 0.002) and 17.8% ( = 0.003), respectively, compression reduced the magnitude and frequency of STV by 15.1% ( = 0.013) and 11.7% ( = 0.001), respectively, without influencing FGI or muscle activation. Although neuromuscular parameters were altered in both legs, losses of torque evoked by 10 and 100 Hz doublets were lower in the compressed leg 48 h post exercise ( < 0.001 and = 0.001, respectively).
This study revealed the potential of compression garments to act as a mechanical support that attenuates high-frequency STV during downhill running and mitigates subsequent delayed neuromuscular alterations.
软组织振动（STV）对肌肉疲劳和损伤的影响已得到广泛研究，但其在跑步过程中的影响仍不明确。由于已知压缩服装可降低STV，它们已显示出对下坡跑急性神经肌肉反应的益处。然而，从未有人对STV的变化进行过深入分析，并且先前的方案并未克服重复运动效应。本研究旨在使用单侧压缩方案，研究压缩短裤是否能够降低STV参数及相关的神经肌肉损伤。
20名健康男性穿着压缩一侧大腿的短裤进行下坡跑直至力竭，对侧腿作为对照。在跑步过程中，使用加速度计测量双腿的足底地面冲击力（FGI）、STV以及肌肉激活情况，以获取FGI和STV，并使用表面肌电图传感器（EMG）测量肌肉激活。对加速度和EMG信号进行时频分析，并将统计非参数映射应用于连续数据，以评估时间和压缩效应。在运动前、运动后以及运动后48小时，评估神经肌肉参数，如最大自主收缩扭矩、自主激活以及由10Hz和100Hz双脉冲刺激诱发的扭矩，同时评估主观疲劳和肌肉酸痛。使用混合线性模型和配对学生t检验分析神经肌肉结果。
虽然结果显示在跑步过程中FGI和STV幅度分别增加了19.7%（P = 0.002）和17.8%（P = 0.003），但压缩分别使STV的幅度和频率降低了15.1%（P = 0.013）和11.7%（P = 0.001），而不影响FGI或肌肉激活。虽然双腿的神经肌肉参数均发生了改变，但在运动后48小时，压缩腿由10Hz和100Hz双脉冲诱发的扭矩损失较低（分别为P < 0.001和P = 0.001）。
本研究揭示了压缩服装作为一种机械支撑的潜力，它可在下坡跑过程中减弱高频STV，并减轻随后延迟出现的神经肌肉改变。
