To test the effect of clothing pressure by commercial tights on the respiratory and thermoregulatory responses during exercise, seven young women wearing three different clothes (two tights different in clothing pressure and a jersey for control) performed 20-min of moderate and 6-min of heavy exercises. Minute ventilation (VE), oxygen consumption (VO₂), heart rate (HR), mean blood pressure (MBP), rectal and skin temperatures (Tre and Tsk), and sweating rate (SR) were measured. During both of exercises no significant differences of clothing pressure were observed in all parameters. Then, we attempted to determine whether physiological responses are affected by graded increase of cuff pressure (15〜60mmHg) around thigh. Seven young women performed 30-min moderate exercise with and without cuff pressures around thighs; the cuff pressures were applied in 5-min steps at 15, 30, 45, and 60mmHg after 10-min of exercise without pressure. VE, VO₂, HR, MBP, and Tre were measured in this protocol. Although no significant difference was observed for the increase in Tre from rest to the end of exercise, VE, VO₂, and HR during exercise with cuff pressures were remarkably higher at 45 and 60mmHg. Moreover MBP at the end of exercise was also higher with cuff pressures. These results suggest that cuff pressure around 45mmHg around thighs could elicit muscle chemoreflex due to accumulation of metabolites in exercising muscles. Therefore we can say that exercise training with pressure to active muscles can improve physiological functions more effectively than without pressure. Although more development will be needed in materials, fibers, stitches and so on, we speculate that there is a possibility to develop the more effective sports wear which can improve aerobics performances.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.22/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE