Training-induced Muscle Strength and Its Role in Interface Pressure in Inelastic Compression

The body composition assessment will be performed through Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) examination, on the first and last day of the study, in both groups, with the participant fasting, without having exercised in the last 24 hours (Andreoli et., 2009).

Muscle strength assessments will be performed at the beginning and end of the intervention (pre-test and post-test) in all study participants. After warming up the lower limbs, based on dynamic movements, for three minutes, each participant will perform between six and eight repetitions with 50% of the estimated maximum load and, one minute later, three repetitions with 70% of the estimated load. Three minutes after the specific warm-up, the test will start. An interval of two minutes will be considered between each attempt, and no more than five attempts will be made for each participant. The load corresponding to the last successful attempt will be considered as a result (Brown & Weir, 2001).

We will perform the handgrip test assessments at the beginning and end of the intervention (pre-test and post-test) in all study participants. We will use a dynamometer in the sitting position, with the shoulder slightly adducted, elbow flexed to 90º, forearm in a neutral position, and, finally, the position of the wrist can vary from 0 to 30º of extension. Three 3-second isometric muscle contractions will be performed, in order to record the handgrip strength obtained (Fernandes & Marins, 2011).

We will perform walking speed assessments at the beginning and end of the intervention (pre-test and post-test) in all study participants. Will be evaluated through the test of walking speed of 4 meters, participants will perform the test walking with normal stride speed throughout the course (Braden, 2012).

We will measure the interface pressure exerted by the bandage/velcro device at point B1 (the area located at the transition between the Achilles tendon and the muscular portion of the medial gastrocnemius muscle). We will perform the interface pressure assessments at the beginning and end of the intervention (pre-test and post-test) in all study participants using a PicoPress pneumatic system.

Static Stiffness Index will be calculated by the difference in the interface pressure measure between the supine and standing positions, at the beginning and end of the intervention (pre-test and post-test).

Working Pressure Amplitude (WPA) will be considered as the difference between the lowest and highest interface pressure recorded during flexion and extension movements of the ankle joint and during walking. And will be performed at the beginning and end of the intervention (pre-test and post-test).

The Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire will be used; scores will be assigned to each question. Changing the scale from zero to 100, values closer to zero being considered a negative perception of quality of life and close to 100 as a positive perception of quality of life (Ciconelli et al., 1999).

We will evaluate lower limbs' functional strength at the beginning and end of the intervention (pre-test and post-test) in all study participants. Using the Chair-test, it will be measured using a chair without armrests with a seat height of approximately 43 cm from the floor. The test will start with the participant sitting in the middle of the chair. At the signal, the participant will rise to full extension of the knee joint (upright body) and then return to the starting sitting position (Jones et al., 1999).

It will be performed using the timed up and go test. The test consists of getting up from a chair, going around a cone three meters away, and sitting back down on the chair. The time it takes the subject to get up from a chair, walk, return to the chair and sit down again is recorded (Podsiadlo & Richardson, 1991).