PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

Novice and experienced runners consistently seek appropriate strategies that can maximise their performance which include wearing compression socks. The purpose of the present study was to observe the effects of compression socks (CS) and smooth socks (SS) on blood lactate (BLa) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) in runners with different experience level. The result of this study may benefit the fitness industries and would promote new running strategy. A randomized cross-over design was used in this study. Accordingly, eight experienced and eight novice runners (23.56±1.41 years) were selected for the study. In particular, the participants were required to run on a Bruce treadmill for both conditions with random arrangement separated by seven days of the washout period. A mixed model ANOVA showed a significant difference (p<0.05) for VO_2max in novice runners instead of experienced runners. Moreover, it was revealed that the VO_2max (44.5 ml/ min/kg ± 1.1 ml/min/kg) in novice runners was higher while wearing CS. However, no significant differences were found for BLa between the conditions (CS/SS) for both groups (Novice/Experienced). Therefore, the overall finding suggests that the use of CS during running only increases the VO_2max among novice runners.