Compression Garments During and After Exercise in Team-Sport Athletes: A Systematic Review and Multilevel Meta-Analysis of Performance and Recovery
TL;DR
Compression garments show selective domain-level signals rather than consistent improvements in specific performance or recovery outcomes, and may be considered a low-burden adjunct, but current evidence does not establish an optimal compression prescription.
Abstract
Compression garments are widely used in team sports, but their effects across performance and recovery domains remain uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of compression garments worn during exercise and postexercise recovery in team-sport athletes and team-sport-relevant task samples, and to explore potential moderators. Ten databases were searched through July 2026. Controlled studies were synthesised using two-level random-effects models for individual outcomes/time points and three-level models for related domains. Effects were expressed as Hedges’ g with 95% confidence intervals; risk of bias, sensitivity, moderator, and GRADE assessments were conducted. Eighteen studies were included. Domain-level effects favoured exercise and sport performance (g = 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.22; moderate certainty), neuromuscular response and movement efficiency (g = 0.39, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.56; low certainty), and muscle soreness and swelling (g = 0.47, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.74; low certainty), whereas outcome-specific analyses showed no consistent significant effects. None of the 22 exploratory moderator tests was significant. Qualitative conclusions were unchanged across r = 0.30–0.70, but excluding high-risk RoB 2 studies weakened the principal positive findings. Compression garments show selective domain-level signals rather than consistent improvements in specific performance or recovery outcomes. They may be considered a low-burden adjunct, but current evidence does not establish an optimal compression prescription.