Effects of wearing compression garments on physiological and performance measures in a simulated game-specific circuit for netball

SummaryThis study combined compression garments and Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking to examine the effects on key physiological and performance measures in a simulated game-specific circuit for netball. Compression garments have anecdotal and research supported evidence of enhancing exercise performance. However, the absence of sport specificity warrants further investigation. A cross-over repeated measures design was used to investigate the effectiveness of compression garments in improving physiological variables in a netball-specific circuit. Field-based measures included 20 m sprints, countermovement jumps and blood lactate concentrations. Circuit data also used data recorded from GPS (GPSpi 10) motion trackers, including heart rates, distance covered, and velocity. On separate occasions, three repeats of a netball-specific circuit occurred under three different garment conditions (usual netball attire, compression garment and placebo garment). Repeated measures ANOVA found no garment by dependent variable interactions during the repeated circuits under three garment conditions. Analysis of effect sizes however, showed greater distances traveled at a faster velocity (3.5 m s−1) using compression garments in comparison to control and placebo garments (Cohen's d = 0.86). Using traditional statistical analysis, performance enhancing effects of compression garments were minimal. However, results of effect sizes analyses showed repeated performances at high speeds were improved in this sample of well-trained netball players.