Wearing compression socks during exercise aids subsequent performance

To assess the effect of wearing compression socks on immediate and subsequent 5km running time trials, with particular attention to the influences on physiological, perceptual and performance-based parameters. Counter-balanced cross-over experiment. Twelve male runners (mean±SD 5km run time 19:29±1:18min:s) each completed two experimental sessions. Sessions consisted of a standardised running warm-up, followed by a 5km time trial (TT1), a one hour recovery period, then a repeat of the warm-up and 5km time trial (TT2). One session required the use of sports compression socks during the first warm-up and time trial (COMP), while the other did not (CON). The decline in run performance in CON from TT1 to TT2 was moderate and significantly greater than that experienced by runners in COMP (9.6s, d=0.67, p