Effects of post-exercise compression garments on subsequent endurance performance and delayed-onset muscle soreness in endurance athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate whether post-exercise compression garments improve subsequent endurance performance and delayed-onset or perceived muscle soreness in adult endurance athletes.
Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through 19 May 2026 for controlled intervention studies comparing post-exercise compression garments with no compression, usual clothing, sham/placebo, passive recovery, or lower-pressure controls. RoB 2 and GRADE assessed risk of bias and certainty. Soreness was synthesized as Hedges g using random-effects models with Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman inference; performance was synthesized narratively. The protocol was registered in Open Science Framework (osf.io/46ck9).
Results: Of 503 records screened, nine studies were included (158 participants; six crossover, three parallel-group). All studies included in the final evidence base were randomized parallel-group or crossover trials. Ten of 11 assessments were high risk. At approximately 24 hours, soreness favored compression but was uncertain (four studies; Hedges g = 0.62, 95% CI -0.57 to 1.82; I2 = 74.0%). Immediate-to-2-hour acute post-exercise perceived soreness/discomfort was also uncertain (three studies; g = 0.38, 95% CI -0.67 to 1.42; I2 = 51.0%). Performance findings were not pooled because of heterogeneity or non-isolatable recovery effects. Certainty was very low.
Conclusions: Soreness estimates were directionally favorable to compression, but…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 158 participants or records.
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