Intermittent pneumatic compression effect on eccentric exercise-induced swelling, stiffness, and strength loss.

OBJECTIVE The purpose was to determine if intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) affects muscle swelling, stiffness, and strength loss resulting from eccentric exercise-induced injury of the elbow flexors. We hypothesized that the compression would decrease swelling and stiffness. DESIGN Repeated measures design with a before-after trial comparison within each day. SETTING Conducted at a university Somatic Dysfunction Laboratory. SUBJECTS Twenty-two college women students were studied. They had not been lifting weights or otherwise participating in regular arm exercise for the 6 months before the study. They had no history of upper extremity injury or cardiovascular disease. INTERVENTIONS Subjects performed one bout of eccentric exercise at a high load to induce elbow flexor muscle injury. Uniform IPC was applied on the day of exercise and daily for 5 days at 60mmHg, 40 seconds inflation, 20 deflation for 20 minutes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Measurements of arm circumference, stiffness, and isometric strength were recorded before exercise, then before and after IPC for 5 days after exercise. Passive muscle stiffness was measured on a device that extends the elbow stepwise and records the torque required to hold the forearm at each elbow angle. RESULTS Circumference and stiffness increased and strength decreased during the 5 days post-exercise (p < .05). IPC significantly decreased circumference and stiffness most notably on days 2 and 3 after exercise (p < .05). The strength loss was not affected by IPC. CONCLUSION IPC is effective in temporarily decreasing the swelling and stiffness after exercise-induced muscle injury.