ArticleBMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation2021
Compression socks enhance sensory feedback to improve standing balance reactions and reflex control of walking.
Article in BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Biomechanical Effects of Socks on Plantar Loading and Foot Function: A Systematic Review.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Effects of compression pants on hip proprioception and dynamic balance during intermittent half-marathon running.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Effects of Compression Stockings on Body Balance in Hemiplegic Patients with Subacute Stroke.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundCompression garments are generally used for their potential benefits in exercise performance and post-exercise recovery. Previous studies show that compression sleeves worn at the elbow change neuromuscular control and improve performance during reaching movement. Cutaneous stimulation of the foot skin produces location-specific reflexes in the lower limb that guide foot placement during locomotion. However, it is not clear whether enhancement of sensory feedback with compression socks can alter the neuromuscular excitability of muscles in the leg and amplify balance performance and walking. The current project aimed to determine whether enhanced sensory input from wearing compression socks could affect: 1) spinal cord excitability (as measured by cutaneous reflexes from stimulation at the top or bottom of the foot during locomotion); 2) static balance performance; and, 3) dynamic balance performance following virtual perturbations.
methodsTwelve participants completed walking and balance tasks wearing four types of garments: 1) non-compression (control) socks; 2) ankle compression socks; 3) calf-compression socks; and, 4) customized ankle sleeves. During walking, electrical stimulations were delivered to three discrete locations on the dorsal (ankle crease, forefoot medial) and plantar (forefoot medial) surfaces of the foot in separate trials with each garment. Electromyography of ankle dorsiflexor tibialis anterior, plantarflexor medial gastrocnemius and evertor peroneus longus were measured bilaterally along with kinematic data from knee and ankle and kinetics under the right (stimulated) foot.
resultsCompared to control socks, altered cutaneous reflexes and biomechanical responses were observed in all the conditions during walking. In dynamic balance tests, time and integrated EMG for recovering from virtual perturbation were significantly reduced when wearing calf compression socks and the ankle sleeve.
conclusionsOur findings suggest sensory enhancement from compression garments modifies spinal cord excitability during walking and improves performance in balance recovery after virtual perturbation.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.