Studying the Effects of Compression Sleeves on Muscle Fatigue and Recovery

We analyzed the effects of compression sleeves commonly used in athletics that claim to reduce muscle fatigue as well as decrease recovery time. One way to look at fatigue and recovery is through electromyography (EMG), which measures electrical impulses that go through a muscle as it is activated.

I led a team of fellow biomedical engineers to research and design a study to test the muscular fatigue and recovery time with and without compression sleeves. Using a breadboard, PCB (Printed Circuit Board), Arduino Uno, and MATLAB we built a functioning EMG into an upper limb compression sleeve. We held mock clinical trials to measure the median frequency of volunteers as they lifted various weights. We later statistically validated the data using MATLAB and Excel.