Influence of platinum harmonized textile on neuromuscular, systemic and subjective recovery

The clothing manufacturer Venex Life-Science tracks the strategy to enhance recovery process through implementing platinum harmonized technology (PHT) into their Venex(®) Regeneration Wear. The proposed mechanisms of the regeneration wear are an increase of parasympathetic activity and an increase of the temperature due far-infrared radiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential effects of Venex regeneration wear on the recovery of neuromuscular, systemic and subjective parameters following exercise. In a randomized, single-blinded cross-over design, 13 strength-trained male participants performed two exercise sessions in one day. After the first exercise session and for 3 nights following the exercise day participants wore the Venex regeneration wear or a placebo product. Measures of isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), voluntary activation (VA) and potentiated twitch torque (PTT) of the knee extensors, as well as maximum jump height during the Counter-Movement and Drop Jump, creatinkinase (CK) and subjective parameters (perceived pain, recovery condition and sleep quality) were obtained before and after each exercise session and 24, 48, and 72 hours after the first exercise session. MVC, PTT, CK and jump parameters changed over time during the exercise day as well as on the following days, however, there were no significant differences between treatments. Subjective parameters showed strong effect sizes (i. e. Cohen’s d > 0.6) in favor for Venex but no significant differences between treatments. Based on these findings, it is concluded that wearing a platinum harmonized textile following exercise did not improve neuromuscular and systemic recovery in a trained male population to a statistical noticeable extent. However, the findings for the subjective parameters suggest some potential for enhanced recovery that requires further research.