Compression suits with and without films and their effects on EMG during isokinetic exercise

This study aimed to determine the differences in the EMG of thigh among film-welded compression suits (WCS), film-free compression suit (CS) and a loose sportswear during knee joint exercise. To differentiate the effect of clothing variable accurately, two types of compression suits were made elaborately using the same material and 3D pattern. Difference in two compression suits is only whether film was welded or not. EMG was observed during isokinetic exercise of flexion and extension, comprising four sets of maximum contraction of thigh at the angular velocity of 60, 180 and 240°/s using Cybex 660. When the WCS was worn, the mean muscle activities of the anterior thigh was generally higher during extension, especially in the left rectus femoris (RF) and right vastus oblique medialis (VMO) throughout the exercise. Wearing WCS enhanced mean muscle activities and decreased muscle fatigue of VL and VMO at each angular velocity, however, it did not support the mean muscle activity nor the fatigue of the hamstrings in almost all conditions of exercise. Muscle-specific EMG implies that film-welded compression suit designed in this study is beneficial to VMO, inducing high muscle activity with less fatigue during knee extension.