Wearing Lower-Body Compression Tights to Bed After Cycling Exercise Does Not Affect Subsequent Sleep in Healthy Male Adults.

Wearing compression tights to bed did not affect sleep onset latency compared to the control condition.

• Measured using polysomnography (gold standard for sleep measurement)
• p = 0.572
• Study involved 12 healthy male participants in a within-subjects, counterbalanced, randomized design
• Participants completed 40 min of moderate-intensity exercise in the afternoon before a 9-hour sleep opportunity

Wearing compression tights to bed did not affect sleep efficiency compared to the control condition.

• Measured using polysomnography
• p = 0.754
• Two conditions compared: Treatment (wearing compression tights to bed after exercise) and Control (not wearing compression tights to bed after exercise)

Wearing compression tights to bed did not affect total sleep time compared to the control condition.

• Measured using polysomnography
• p = 0.953
• Participants had a 9-hour sleep opportunity in both conditions

Wearing compression tights to bed did not affect the amount of slow-wave sleep compared to the control condition.

• Measured using polysomnography
• p = 0.374
• Slow-wave sleep is a key marker of sleep quality and physical recovery

Wearing compression tights to bed did not affect the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep compared to the control condition.

• Measured using polysomnography
• p = 0.638

Wearing compression tights to bed did not affect subjective sleep quality, comfort, or pain compared to the control condition.

• Subjective assessments obtained using visual analogue scales
• Sleep quality: p = 0.549
• Comfort: p = 0.548
• Pain: p = 0.838

The study used polysomnography as the gold standard for sleep measurement, in contrast to prior research relying on self-reports and accelerometers.

• Prior evidence suggesting compression garments aid recovery via improved sleep quality was based on self-reports and accelerometers
• This study obtained both objective measures (polysomnography) and subjective measures (visual analogue scales)
• 12 healthy male participants were enrolled in a within-subjects, counterbalanced, randomized design

Athletes who choose to wear compression tights to bed for perceived recovery benefits can do so without any undue effects on sleep.

• No statistically significant differences were found on any objective or subjective sleep measure
• This conclusion applies specifically to healthy male adults after moderate-intensity exercise
• The authors note this finding addresses concerns that compression garments might negatively disrupt sleep