Effects of compression sock use in healthy adult runners: a systematic review with quantitative effect size synthesis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v81.118828Keywords:
Compression socks, running, sports performance, recovery, systematic reviewAbstract
Introduction: Compression socks have been proposed as a potentially ergogenic strategy capable of accelerating recovery processes thanks to their effects on haemodynamics, muscle oscillation and the perception of exertion.
Objective: To systematically review the effects of compression socks use in healthy adult runners on hematological parameters, muscle damage, perceptual outcomes, sports performance, and kinematic variables.
Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and ScienceDirect following PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials and crossover studies involving runners who evaluated the use of compression socks during and/or after running were included. A narrative synthesis and a descriptive quantitative synthesis based on effects sizes were performed.
Results: Nine studies were included. The quantitative synthesis showed small to moderate effects on time to exhaustion and the ability to maintain performance in consecutive trials. Small to moderate effects sizes were observed in novice runners for stride length and swing time, whereas effects in trained runners were small or trivial. Hematological parameters related to coagulation showed small effects. Effects on hemodynamic parameters ranged from trivial to small, and no effects were observed on muscle damage markers or perceptual variables.
Conclusions: The use of compression socks in healthy adult runners may provide modest, context-dependent benefits, particularly for sports performance and selected physiological and biomechanical parameters. However, the available evidence is limited and heterogeneous.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Diego Fernández Lázaro, Gema Santamaría Gómez, Eduardo Gutiérrez Abejón, Joseba Díaz López, Álvaro López Llorente, David Jerves Donoso
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