Abstract This study examines the effects of full‐leg compression sleeves worn during a 90‐min recovery period on repeated sprint performance and exercise‐induced leg soreness (DOMS) in youth soccer players. Twelve male youth soccer players (17 ± 0 years; 178 ± 7 cm; 70.9 ± 7.5 kg) performed a repeated sprint protocol (5 × 30 m sprints, 20 s recovery; RSP 1 ) followed by a modified Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) to induce fatigue. After the LIST, players underwent a 90‐min passive recovery wearing either full leg compression sleeves (COMP, 19–25 mmHg) or regular gym pants (CON) in a randomized crossover design. After the 90‐min recovery, all players repeated the RSP (RSP 2 ), and exercise‐induced DOMS was assessed via a visual analogue scale 14 and 24 h post‐exercise. Mean sprint times were similar across conditions (RSP 1 : COMP 4.59 ± 0.16 s, CON 4.65 ± 0.18 s; RSP 2 : COMP 4.59 ± 0.15 s, CON 4.64 ± 0.19 s), with no significant differences between COMP and CON for performance changes (COMP: +0.01 ± 0.06 s; CON: −0.01 ± 0.05 s) or DOMS (14 h: COMP 3.49 ± 1.73, CON 4.73 ± 2.32; 24 h: COMP 2.78 ± 2.32, CON 4.04 ± 2.12). Compression garments had no impact on repeated sprint performance or exercise‐induced leg soreness. The efficacy of compression garments for recovery remains inconclusive, requiring further research.
Engel et al. (Sun,) studied this question.