Compression socks may offer more benefits during a long-distance race than during recovery, according to new research. The study, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, challenges the common assumption that compression gear is best used after exercise. The findings suggest that wearing compression garments during a competition could help muscles recover faster than wearing them afterward.
The investigators enlisted 56 trail-running athletes and divided them into three cohorts: 19 wore compression shorts throughout a 26-km race, 17 put the shorts on only after finishing, and 20 served as a control group that did not use any compression apparel.
The control group showed higher increases in creatine kinase, a biomarker that indicates muscle stress, compared to those who wore compression gear during or after the race. This suggests the compression group experienced less muscle damage. Participants who wore compression shorts during the race also showed statistically significant improvement in jumping power immediately after and up to two days after the race. Those who wore them after the race saw improvement, but the results were not statistically significant.
Julia Farid, an exercise physiologist at Hospital for Special Surgery, noted that the study challenged the typical mindset regarding recovery wear. “It really changed our mindset,” Farid said. The study had limitations, as it only involved trail runners, and compression garments can be uncomfortable during long sessions.
Blood samples were collected from each participant right before the race, immediately after crossing the finish line, and again two days later to assess creatine kinase, a biomarker that gauges muscle strain. The control cohort showed a larger rise in creatine-kinase levels post-race compared with the groups that wore compression shorts either during or after the event, indicating greater muscle damage among those without compression.
Considerations for Athletes
Published October 10, 2026 03:00AM. (Photo: Canva)
