OBJECTIVE:To assess plasma levels of muscle soreness biomarkers, namely creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and myoglobin, in professional volleyball players following anaerobic exercise with and without the use of elastic stockings. METHODS: Ten female volleyball players aged 18 to 25 years-old were assessed with and without below-knee 20 to 30 mmHg compression stockings (Sport Active®, Venosan, Abreu e Lima, Brazil). Biomarker levels were assessed at three different moments: M0, early in the morning, with the athletes at rest, not using elastic stockings; M1, early in the morning, following a bout of exercise using elastic stockings; M2, seven days later, following the same bout of exercise, however not using elastic stockings. The Borg scale was used after each series of exercise to evaluate the physical effort. RESULTS: The means values obtained for creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were, respectively, 117.7±40.2 and 134.2±11.3 U/L at M0; 138.2±47.2 and 157.9±10.1 U/L at M1; and 161.3±59.9 and 177.2±18.8 U/L at M2. The mean values obtained for myoglobin were 31.5±6.5; 34.9±5.6 and 38.6±12.6 µg/L at the moments M0, M1 and M2, respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed between M1 and M2 (Tukey) for creatine kinase (p=0.0007) and lactate dehydrogenase (p=0.000), but not for myoglobin (p=0.1135). Borg scale scores obtained at M1 and M2 were, respectively, 17.8 and 18.2, without statistically significant differences between them (Wilcoxon). CONCLUSION: The use of elastic stockings was associated with lower plasma levels of biomarkers of muscle injury after exercise.
elastic stockings; athletic performance; motor activity
