RESEARCH REPORT POSTER DISPLAY

THE EFFECTS OF WEARING SPORTS TIGHTS DURING TRAINING ON LOWER LEG VOLUME IN PROFESSIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS. Morgan K^1,2, Alonso A¹, Adams R³; ¹Bulldogs National Rugby League Club, Sydney, Australia. ²Parramatta National Rugby League Club, Sydney, Australia. ³School of Physiotherapy, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

PURPOSE: Swelling, or an increase in limb volume, has been found to occur following high intensity exercise. Swelling has been linked to muscle damage, which requires a recovery period before maximum function can be regained. Applying a compression garment is one possible method of limiting exercise-induced swelling or increased limb volume. The aim of the present study was to determine if in fact lower leg volume is increased in professional rugby league players following a training session, then to determine what effect sports tights might have on lower leg volume if worn during a similar training session. RELEVANCE: If the swelling that occurs following high intensity exercise is limited or even prevented then recovery times may be improved following intense training sessions. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty four professional first-grade rugby league players volunteered to take part in the study. METHODS: The players were assigned to one of three training groups; endurance, sprint and weight training. Lower leg volume up to the popliteal crease was measured before and after two separate training sessions using water displacement volumetry. Thirteen players volunteered to wear sports tights during training during the second session. All subjects filled out a questionnaire before and after each training session, rating their feelings of leg fatigue on visual analogue scales. ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for windows (v10.0). Descriptive statistics were obtained, including the mean pre and post training lower leg volumes as well as standard error and standard deviation. Descriptive data was then analysed using paired samples t tests to determine if any significant change in volume had occurred. The same method was used to analyse the self-reported data obtained from the visual analogue scales. RESULTS: Mean lower leg volume increased significantly by 30.31ml (p = 0.001) when subjects trained without sports tights. The endurance group recorded the largest volume increase (31.15ml).When sports tights were worn lower leg volume was unchanged following training. The volume increases in the endurance group coincided with significant increases (p < 0.05) in post training ratings of leg tiredness, swelling and muscle twitching. When subjects from the endurance group wore sports tights during training there were no significant changes to lower leg volume, or to feelings of leg fatigue. As well, the group reported a significant increase in subjective ratings of training performance following training with sports tights. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of professional rugby league players lower leg volume was significantly increased following training. Endurance training resulted in the largest volume increase followed by sprint training and weight training. Sports tights, when worn during training, worked to limit the observed lower leg volume increase. These preliminary data suggest that the compression applied by sports tights is sufficient to prevent an increase in fluid accumulation in working limbs, possibly by altering the hydrostatic pressure gradient. IMPLICATIONS: Sports tights work to limit the lower leg volume increases seen following training. If the lower leg volume increases presented here are indicative of muscular damage then sports tights may work to improve recovery rates following training. KEYWORDS: Exercise, Recovery, Volumetry. FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: None. CONTACT: kieren.morgan@parraeels.com.au

ETHICS COMMITTEE: Ethics and Biosafety Committee, University of Sydney.