Evaluation of the reduction in perceived and performance fatigability by functional compression tights during squat exercises via electromyography and electroencephalography analysis

Takuma Isshiki; Shinnosuke Tsukada; Minami Akao; Yuna Ishikura; Hayato Shigetoh; Takayuki Kodama; Junya Miyazaki

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0331778

. 2025 Sep 5;20(9):e0331778. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331778

Evaluation of the reduction in perceived and performance fatigability by functional compression tights during squat exercises via electromyography and electroencephalography analysis

Takuma Isshiki ^1,^#, Shinnosuke Tsukada ^1,^#, Minami Akao ¹, Yuna Ishikura ¹, Hayato Shigetoh ^1,^*, Takayuki Kodama ¹, Junya Miyazaki ¹

Editor: Hasan Sozen²

PMCID: PMC12412955 PMID: 40911540

Abstract

Objectives

Functional compression tights are widely used to support muscle activity, enhance blood flow and reduce fatigue, which comprises performance (motor or cognitive) and perceived fatigability. Although previous studies have reported their effects on motor performance fatigability, little is known about their effects on cognitive performance fatigability or brain activity. This study aimed to evaluate quantitatively and comprehensively the effects of functional compression tights on perceived fatigability, muscle activity, and electroencephalographic (EEG) responses.

Methods

Twenty healthy young adults performed squat tasks under two conditions (with and without functional compression tights) using a crossover design. Muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (EMG) of the five thigh muscles to calculate the root mean square (RMS) and mean frequency (MF). EEG activity was recorded in the Fp1, Fp2, and Fz regions, and power change rates in the alpha, beta, and theta bands were calculated. Perceived fatigability was assessed using a numerical rating scale. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for between-condition comparisons, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the comprehensive relationships among perceived fatigability, muscle activity, and EEG activity.

Results

Wearing tights significantly reduced perceived fatigability (p = 0.003) and RMS of the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) (p = 0.041). Although not statistically significant (p = 0.054), the moderate effect size suggests a stabilizing effect of functional compression tights on frontal EEG activity. Under the condition with functional compression tights, the RMS of the RF positively correlated with perceived fatigability (ρ = 0.53), while MF showed a negative correlation (ρ = –0.70). Positive correlations were also observed between perceived fatigability and the alpha/theta powers at Fp2 and alpha power at Fz.

Discussion

Wearing functional compression tights may alleviate motor and cognitive performance fatigability by stabilizing muscle and frontal brain activity. These findings support its utility in managing motor and cognitive fatigability during physical activity.

Introduction

Functional compression tights are designed to support muscles and reduce fatigue during exercise through mechanical compression. Wearable taping tights mimic athletic taping to suppress muscle oscillation and enhance joint stability, while standard compression tights apply uniform pressure to promote blood circulation and alleviate fatigue [1–3]. However, their effects may vary depending on individual characteristics, exercise type, and garment application. Some studies have reported inconsistent benefits or even adverse effects such as restricted movement or altered muscle activation [4–6]. Additionally, most research focuses on short-term effects, and the long-term efficacy and safety of these garments remain unclear [7,8].

Fatigue is currently conceptualized as a psychophysiological condition that arises during or following motor or cognitive tasks and is defined by two interrelated components: performance fatigability and perceived fatigability [9,10]. Performance fatigability refers to a measurable decline in task performance, which can be further categorized into motor performance fatigability—such as a reduction in muscular force output—and cognitive performance fatigability—such as decreased accuracy, reaction speed, or attentional stability in cognitive tasks. In contrast, perceived fatigability reflects the subjective experience of fatigue, including sensations of effort, discomfort, and reduced motivation. These two components are interdependent but influenced by distinct physiological and psychological mechanisms, including neuromuscular function, sensory and affective feedback, cognitive control, and overall homeostatic state.

Motor performance fatigability can be objectively quantified using surface electromyography (EMG), which captures myoelectric changes in both time and frequency domains. In the time domain, root mean square (RMS) reflects the amplitude of muscle activation, typically increasing in early motor performance fatigability due to greater motor unit recruitment, then decreasing under severe motor performance fatigability. In the frequency domain, mean frequency (MF) generally decreases with progressive motor performance fatigability as muscle fiber conduction velocity slows. RMS and MF are therefore considered complementary indicators of motor performance fatigability [11]. Previous studies suggest that functional compression tights can reduce RMS and attenuate the decline in MF, indicating lower muscle activation and mitigated motor performance fatigability progression [5,12]. These findings highlight the importance of assessing muscle motor performance fatigability using both amplitude- and frequency-based EMG measures to capture the multifaceted nature of motor performance fatigability.

Central nervous system factors are also closely associated with fatigue, with central neural activity influencing peripheral muscle responses [11]. In motor performance fatigability, the depletion of muscular capacity affects brainwave activity. As cognitive performance fatigability progresses, reductions and irregularities in alpha wave activity have been reported in the frontal regions (Fp1, Fp2, Fz) during and after exercise [13]. According to a previous study [14], the left frontal area (Fp1) is associated with positive emotional states, whereas the right frontal area (Fp2) is linked to negative emotional processes. Additionally, beta activity in the frontal cortex, especially in the Fz region, increases in response to muscular tension and psychological stress, indicating heightened cognitive load and cognitive performance fatigability progression [15,16]. In cognitive performance fatigability, increased cognitive demands and sustained attention have been shown to influence electroencephalography (EEG) activity. Specifically, elevated alpha activity in the frontal regions (Fp1, Fp2, Fz) has been documented as a compensatory response to attentional decline [17]. Moreover, theta activity in the frontal midline, particularly at Fz, rises as attention and decision-making deteriorate, reflecting greater cognitive workload and cognitive performance fatigability [16,18]. Despite these findings, the effects of functional compression tights on brainwave activity remain poorly understood. Further studies are needed to clarify whether these garments modulate central neural responses to both motor and cognitive performance fatigability.

Although previous studies have reported that wearing functional compression tights can reduce motor performance fatigability—as assessed by muscle activity indices—evidence regarding their influence on brainwave activity remains limited and inconclusive. We hypothesized that the fatigue-attenuating effect of functional compression tights may stem from their combined influence on motor and cognitive performance fatigability. Prior studies have shown that as motor performance fatigability progresses, RMS tend to increase, while MF decreases in EMG signals [11]. Concurrently, reductions in frontal alpha wave activity have been associated with declines in both motor and cognitive performance [13], whereas beta wave activity tends to increase under fatigued conditions [1 5]. Based on these findings, we anticipated that using functional compression tights would mitigate motor performance fatigability, reflected by reduced RMS and preserved or elevated MF. In terms of EEG activity, we further hypothesized that functional compression tights would stabilize brainwave fluctuations—enhancing alpha activity and suppressing beta activity. This study investigated whether changes in muscle activity (i.e., reduced RMS and preserved MF) induced by wearing functional compression tights were associated with variations in EEG-based fatigue indicators cognitive performance fatigability (i.e., alpha, beta, and theta power). By comparing pre- and post-exercise muscle and brain activity, we aimed to quantitatively assess the neuromuscular and neurophysiological effects of functional compression tights. This study sought to provide an integrative evaluation of attenuation of motor and cognitive performance fatigability using both muscular and cortical electrophysiological indicators.

Participants and methods

Participants

Twenty healthy young adults (mean age: 20.6 ± 0.5 years; 14 males and six females) participated in the study. Individuals with current lower-limb pain or a history of orthopedic disorders affecting the lower extremities were excluded from the study. This study was conducted as part of undergraduate thesis research and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Kyoto Tachibana University (Approval No.:24−06). All participants, including minors, provided written informed consent prior to participation in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Although the study included minors, the ethics committee did not require parental or guardian consent due to the academic nature of the research and the maturity of the participants as university students. The study employed a cross-sectional design. The recruitment and data collection for this study were conducted between 1st June 2024 and 31st August 2024.

Research protocol

This study employed a crossover design. The participants completed a fatiguing task and associated measurements under two conditions: wearing functional compression tights (CW-X half-type, Wacoal Corp, Kyoto, Japan) and without functional compression tights. A one-week washout period was set between the two experimental sessions. The order of the two conditions was randomly assigned to each participant (Fig 1).

Under each condition, the participants followed a standardized protocol, and muscle activity and EEG signals were recorded. First, the participants maintained a squat posture for 40 seconds to establish pre-fatigue baseline measures. Subsequently, a 2-minute rest period was provided. Subsequently, participants performed repeated squat exercises for the fatiguing task. Immediately after completing the fatiguing task, the participants maintained a squatting posture for 40 seconds to obtain post-fatigue measurements (Fig 2).

Fatiguing task (squat exercise)

The motor performance fatigability test consisted of repeated squatting. A single squat was defined as a movement sequence starting from a standing position with feet shoulder-width apart and arms crossed in front of the body, descending until the knee joints reached approximately 90 degrees of flexion, and then returning to the upright position. A visual marker was placed at eye level to ensure consistency in squat depth before and after the fatiguing task to serve as a reference point for achieving the target posture. The participants were instructed to perform up to 200 repetitions of the squat movement or to continue until a combination of perceived and motor performance fatigability made it difficult to maintain the proper form. The movement pace was regulated using auditory cues set at 40 beats per minute via a metronome-like beep. The participants were asked to maintain a squat posture at 90 degrees of knee flexion for 40 seconds to evaluate muscle activity under isometric contraction before and after the fatiguing task.

Recording and analysis of muscle activities

Surface EMG data were recorded using a wireless EMG sensor system (BioSignalPlux, Plux, Inc., Lisbon, Portugal). Based on previous research [19], five dominant leg muscles were selected for analysis: the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST). A reference electrode was placed during the radial styloid process. Before electrode placement, the skin at each site was cleaned with alcohol to reduce impedance. Electrode placement followed the recommendations of SENIAM (Surface Electromyography for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles) [20] as follows: RF, midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), and superior border of the patella. VL: distal one-third of the line between the ASIS and the lateral border of the patella; VMO: distal one-fifth of the line between the ASIS and the anterior margin of the medial collateral ligament at the joint space. BF: midpoint between the ischial tuberosity and the lateral epicondyle of the tibia. ST: Midpoint between the ischial tuberosity and medial epicondyle of the tibia.

EMG signals were sampled at 1000 Hz and preprocessed using a band-pass filter (10–400 Hz). The signals were then full-wave-rectified. Two indicators were calculated to evaluate motor performance fatigability: time (RMS) and frequency domain (MF). For each muscle, a central 10-second segment of isometric contraction data (during squat posture maintenance) was extracted both before (pre) and after (post) the fatiguing task. RMS and MF values were computed for each segment. To account for individual variability in baseline muscle activation, post-task values were normalized relative to pre-task values (Pre = 100%), and the relative change was used for further analysis. This normalization enabled precise comparisons between conditions by eliminating inter-individual differences in the absolute EMG amplitude.

Recording and analysis of brain wave activities

EEG signals were recorded using an 8-channel wearable EEG device (Altaire; Creact Inc., Japan) at a sampling rate of 1000 Hz. Based on the international 10–20 system, three regions of interest (Fp1, Fp2, and Fz) were selected for analysis due to their established associations with cognitive and motor performance fatigability. The Fp1 and Fp2 regions are involved in cognitive and emotional processing and are known to reflect changes in cognitive performance fatigability and emotional arousal [21]. The Fz region is associated with motor control and motor performance fatigability, making it suitable for evaluating neurophysiological changes following physical exertion [1 7]. This study analyzed alpha waves at Fp1, Fp2, and Fz as indicators of arousal and dearousal states. Alpha wave blocking, or alpha-blocking, is a well-established neurophysiological indicator of cognitive performance fatigability and arousal state. It refers to the suppression of alpha wave activity that typically occurs upon task initiation or exposure to external stimuli, reflecting increased wakefulness and attentional engagement [22]. As cognitive performance fatigability accumulates, this blocking response tends to weaken, leading to a rebound or increase in alpha power [18]. Additionally, beta waves were assessed as markers of attentional arousal and emotional tension [23], while theta waves were evaluated as indicators of cognitive performance fatigability and attentional fluctuation [1 7]. EEG signals were referenced to both earlobes. Dry electrodes were applied to the cleaned forehead area, and the electrode contact was carefully adjusted for optimal signal acquisition. To minimize external influences on EEG activity, the participants were instructed to sleep adequately the night before measurement and refrain from consuming alcohol or caffeine. All recordings were conducted in a quiet controlled environment.

EEG data were preprocessed by applying a bandpass filter (1–30 Hz) to remove the frequency components outside the range of interest. Independent component analysis was used to remove artifacts such as eye blinks and muscle noise, and to isolate neural EEG components. A stable 10-second segment was extracted from the middle of the 40-second isometric squat-holding task performed before and after the fatigue protocol to ensure consistency within the EMG analysis. Time-frequency analysis was conducted using wavelet transformation to calculate the power values in the theta (4–7 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), and beta (13–30 Hz) bands. Power values were log-transformed using the natural logarithm. Post-task power values were normalized relative to pre-task values (Pre = 100%) and expressed as a percentage change to account for individual differences.

Perceived fatigability

To evaluate the perceived fatigability in the lower limbs after the squat task, an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was used. Participants rated their perceived fatigue on a scale ranging from 0 (“no fatigue at all”) to 10 (“extremely severe fatigue”).

Statistical analyses

Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted to compare the outcomes between the two conditions: with and without functional compression tights. The variables analyzed included perceived fatigability of the lower limb (NRS), muscle activity indices (RMS and MF), and EEG power changes (alpha, beta, and theta bands) at the Fp1, Fp2, and Fz electrode sites. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationships between perceived fatigability and physiological indicators (muscle activity and EEG power) and between muscle activity and EEG indices separately for each condition. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. All analyses related to the muscle and EEG signals were performed using MATLAB (R2024b, MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA), and statistical analyses were conducted using R software (version 4.2.3).

Results

Differences in perceived fatigability between conditions

Perceived fatigability was significantly lower in the functional compression tights condition than that in the without functional compression tights condition (p = 0.003, r = –0.46) (Fig 3).

Muscle activity indicators by condition

Regarding the RMS indicator after the fatiguing task, only the VMO showed a significantly lower value with functional compression tights than without functional compression tights conditions (p = 0.041, r = 0.46). No significant differences were observed between the conditions for the other muscles. In addition, no significant differences were found between conditions for any of the muscles for the MF indicator (Table 1 and Fig 4).

Table 1. Muscle activity indicators by condition.

Muscle variable	With Functional Compression Tight	Without Functional Compression Tight	P value	Effect size (r)
RMS (%)
RF	100.4 (100.4)	122.9 (79.8)	0.211	–0.28
VL	96.4 (83.6)	84.3 (109.7)	0.113	0.36
VM	84.7 (78.3)	148.0 (127.2)	0.041	–0.46
BF	104.8 (185.3)	120.3 (132.3)	0.054	–0.43
ST	130.3 (53.1)	130.9 (82.5)	0.926	–0.03
MF (%)
RF	96.4 (7.8)	95.3 (7.0)	0.467	0.17
VL	104.8 (12.5)	109.5 (29.3)	0.360	–0.21
VM	100.6 (13.8)	96.8 (15.3)	0.225	0.28
BF	98.2 (11.1)	98.8 (15.7)	0.985	–0.01
ST	97.1 (7.2)	99.8 (11.1)	0.360	–0.21

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Data are presented as the median (interquartile range). rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST).

Differences in EEG activity between conditions

Following the fatiguing task, no significant differences were observed in EEG activity indicators at the Fp1 and Fp2 sites across all frequency bands exhibiting a trend toward smaller effect sizes (Table 2 and Fig 5). At the Fz site, the change in alpha power in the functional compression tights condition was lower than that in the without functional compression tights condition; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.054). The functional compression tights condition showed moderate effect sizes for reduced power changes in the alpha (r = –0.43), beta (r = –0.32), and theta bands (–0.30), suggesting a potential stabilizing effect on EEG activity in the frontal midline region.

Table 2. Brain wave activity indicators by condition.

Muscle variable	With Functional Compression Tight	Without Functional Compression Tight	P value	Effect size (r)
Fp1
α change (%)	125.3 (69.2)	146.1 (47.8)	0.360	–0.21
β change (%)	140.9 (72.9)	178.3 (107.7)	0.341	–0.21
θ change (%)	117.0 (38.2)	119.8 (30.4)	0.563	–0.13
Fp2
α change (%)	144.3 (53.1)	149.0 (47.6)	0.514	–0.15
β change (%)	154.7 (59.2)	145.2 (104.4)	0.926	0.02
θ change (%)	122.2 (19.2)	120.8 (32.4)	0.401	–0.19
Fz
α change (%)	149.3 (111.0)	207.4 (82.2)	0.054	–0.43
β change (%)	166.8 (124.0)	218.8 (159.0)	0.151	–0.32
θ change (%)	146.1 (66.9)	188.2 (99.2)	0.185	–0.30

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Relationships between perceived fatigability and EMG/EEG indicators

As shown in Fig 6, correlation analyses revealed significant associations between perceived fatigability and EMG indicators. In the condition with functional compression tights, perceived fatigability was positively correlated with the RMS of the RF (ρ = 0.53, p = 0.017) and negatively correlated with its MF (ρ = –0.70, p = 0.001). On the other hands, in the condition without functional compression tights, a significant negative correlation was observed between perceived fatigability and the RMS of the VMO (ρ = –0.50, p = 0.024).

Regarding correlations with EEG indicators (Fig 6), under the condition with functional compression tights, perceived fatigability showed significant positive correlations with the change in alpha power at Fp2 (ρ = 0.52, p = 0.020), theta power at Fp2 (ρ = 0.48, p = 0.032), and alpha power at Fz (ρ = 0.45, p = 0.047). In the condition without functional compression tights, perceived fatigability was significantly correlated with changes in alpha power (ρ = 0.78, p < 0.001), beta power (ρ = 0.57, p = 0.009), and theta power (ρ = 0.73, p < 0.001) at Fp2, as well as beta power at Fz (ρ = 0.60, p = 0.005).

Relationships between muscle activity and EEG indicators

As shown in Fig 7, the correlation analyses in the functional compression tights condition revealed significant associations between muscle activity and EEG power changes. Specifically, the RMS of the RF was positively correlated with beta (ρ = 0.50, p = 0.024) and theta power (ρ = 0.51, p = 0.020) at Fp2, as well as beta (ρ = 0.45, p = 0.045) and theta power (ρ = 0.54, p = 0.013) at Fz. The MF of the RF showed a significant positive correlation with alpha power at Fp1 (ρ = 0.59, p = 0.006). Additionally, the RMS of the VL was positively correlated with alpha power at Fp2 (ρ = 0.51, p = 0.021), and the RMS of the ST was positively correlated with beta power at Fz (ρ = 0.47, p = 0.037).

On the other hand, in the condition without functional compression tights (Fig 8), significant negative correlations were observed between the RMS of the VMO and alpha (ρ = –0.63, p = 0.003), beta (ρ = –0.45, p = 0.044), and theta power (ρ = –0.58, p = 0.007) at Fp2, as well as beta power at Fz (ρ = –0.54, p = 0.014).

Discussion

Overview of results

This study investigated the effects of functional compression tights on perceived fatigability, muscle activity, and EEG responses. The tights significantly reduced perceived fatigability and selectively suppressed RMS activity in the VMO, suggesting reduced post-task neuromuscular demand. Although no significant changes were observed in EEG across most regions, a relatively stable alpha power in the Fz region may indicate potential modulation of frontal brain activity. These results suggest that compression garments may influence both motor and cognitive performance fatigability through muscle-specific and neurophysiological pathways.

Effects of compression tights on motor performance fatigability

Wearing functional compression tights reduced perceived fatigability and selectively suppressed EMG activity in the VMO after the fatiguing task. Since RMS typically increases with performance fatigability [11], the lower RMS observed in the VMO suggests reduced neuromuscular demand. This may be due to enhanced joint stability, as the VMO plays a key role in patellar tracking [24]. Prior studies have shown that compression garments can modulate muscle activity based on regional pressure and the alignment of compression bands with muscle fiber direction [25–27]. These factors may explain why no significant effects were found in other muscles like the RF or ST. Regional variation in compression strength and orientation may have limited the neuromuscular modulation in those areas. Although MF, which reflects conduction velocity and fatigue progression, did not significantly differ between conditions, the relative stability of MF after the fatiguing task may reflect attenuation of performance fatigability-related decline [11]. In summary, functional compression tights may selectively delay performance fatigability in stabilizing muscles like the VMO, but localized effects depend on anatomical and garment-specific factors.

Effects of compression tights on cognitive performance fatigability

EEG activity in the frontal regions (Fp1, Fp2, and Fz), associated with motor and cognitive performance fatigability, was analyzed to assess the effects of functional compression tights. Power changes in alpha, beta, and theta bands were used as neural indices of cognitive fatigability, reflecting relaxation (alpha), attention and cognitive effort (beta) [28,29], and cognitive fatigability (theta) [17]. While no statistically significant differences were observed between conditions, alpha power at Fz showed a moderate effect size. This suggests that compression tights may stabilize alpha activity in the Fz region, which is involved in motor control and fatigue-related attentional regulation. Such stabilization may indicate an attenuation of neurophysiological fatigability-related responses under physical stress. These findings imply that compression tights could modulate cognitive performance fatigability through effects on frontal brain dynamics.

Interaction among perceived fatigability, muscle activity, and cortical responses

This study explored the interactions among muscle activity, EEG dynamics, and perceived fatigability under the influence of functional compression tights. Under the compression condition, the RMS of the RF positively correlated with power changes in the alpha, beta, and theta bands at Fp2 and Fz, while ST RMS showed a positive correlation with Fz-beta power. These findings suggest that functional compression tights may facilitate coordinated neuromuscular and cortical responses by stabilizing frontal brain activity, potentially enhancing motor performance during motor fatigability. In contrast, without compression tights, the RMS of the VMO showed significant negative correlations with alpha, beta, and theta power changes in the same regions, indicating less efficient neuromuscular regulation. Furthermore, reduced perceived fatigability perception under the compression condition was associated with lower RMS and attenuated MF reduction in the RF, implying suppression of excessive muscular load and maintenance of muscle fiber conduction velocity [11]. In terms of cortical indicators, significant associations were observed between perceived fatigability and alpha and theta power at Fp2 and Fz under the compression condition, suggesting stable neural activity. By contrast, without compression tights, stronger and broader associations—including beta power—were evident, reflecting elevated cognitive strain [30]. These results are consistent with previous studies showing that compression garments reduce muscle fatigue and improve neuromuscular performance by enhancing blood flow and muscle stability [7,12,25]. Collectively, the findings suggest that functional compression tights may exert their fatigability-attenuating effects through two complementary physiological mechanisms: (1) optimizing local muscle activity and (2) attenuating central fatigability-related responses, as reflected in EEG activity.

Clinical and functional implications of neurophysiological findings

The novelty of this study lies in its integrative evaluation of the fatigability-attenuating effects of functional compression tights from the perspectives of both motor and cognitive performance fatigability. Specifically, we combined peripheral muscle activity indicators (RMS and MF), reflecting motor performance fatigability, with frontal EEG measures (alpha, beta, and theta power), which serve as indices of cognitive performance fatigability, to assess the neurophysiological effects of wearing functional compression tights. From a neurophysiological standpoint, significant correlations were observed under with functional compression tights condition between perceived fatigability and alpha and theta power changes at Fp2 and Fz. These findings suggest that functional compression tights may reduce cognitive performance fatigability by stabilizing frontal neural activity and attenuating excessive EEG fluctuations. Additionally, correlations between suppressed activity in specific muscle groups (e.g., the VMO) and frontal EEG indices imply that functional compression tights may reduce unnecessary peripheral muscle activity, contributing to neurophysiological stability. Although no significant group-level differences were found in the Fz EEG power, moderate effect sizes were observed for the change rates in alpha power, which may indicate a stabilizing effect on frontal neural activity under physical stress. These findings suggest that wearing functional compression tights contributes to a significant reduction in perceived fatigability, efficient regulation of muscle activity, and attenuation of frontal EEG variability related to fatigue. From a clinical perspective, these results support the potential of functional compression tights as assistive tools in rehabilitation and exercise therapy, particularly for reducing motor performance fatigability and enhancing neuromuscular and central nervous system coordination to improve motor performance. In sports medicine, functional compression tights may also contribute to injury prevention by mitigating fatigability and can be integrated into comprehensive fatigue management strategies, potentially in combination with other wearable garments or monitoring technologies, for practical use in clinical and athletic settings.

Limitations and future directions

This study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. First, although the knee joint angle was standardized during squatting, the trunk and hip joint angles were not controlled. Variations in these postures may have influenced muscle activation patterns and fatigability responses. Second, the tights were worn prior to the fatiguing task, which may have affected baseline muscle activity or perceived fatigability due to mechanical or psychological factors, including potential placebo effects. Third, the EMG analysis focused on selected lower limb muscles, such as the RF, VMO, and VL. Other relevant muscles involved in squatting, such as the gastrocnemius and erector spinae, were not assessed. Future studies should incorporate broader muscle group analyses and consider controlling joint kinematics more comprehensively. In addition, the integration of biomechanical and validated psychological assessments may help clarify the underlying mechanisms of compression garments and optimize their use in both athletic and clinical contexts.

Conclusion

This study investigated the effects of functional compression tights on both perceived and performance fatigability. Compared to the without functional compression tights condition, wearing functional compression tights significantly reduced perceived fatigability. It influenced fatigue-related suppression of muscle activity in specific muscles and emotion-related EEG indicators in the frontal cortex. These findings suggest that functional compression tights may exert fatigue-reducing effects through a dual mechanism, modulating peripheral muscle and central nervous activities, particularly in the context of emotional and attentional neural responses.

Supporting information

S1 Data. Electromyography data used in the study.

(XLSX)

pone.0331778.s001.xlsx^{(29.7KB, xlsx)}

S2 Data. Electroencephalography data used in the study.

(XLSX)

pone.0331778.s002.xlsx^{(28.8KB, xlsx)}

S3 Data. Subjective fatigue scores recorded by NRS.

(XLSX)

pone.0331778.s003.xlsx^{(9.6KB, xlsx)}

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of Wacoal Corp. for their technical assistance and provision of study materials.

Data Availability

All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting Information files.

Funding Statement

This research was supported by a collaborative research grant from Wacoal Corp. and by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) [Grant Number 25K141790].

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PLoS One. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331778.r001

Decision Letter 0

Hasan Sozen

16 Jun 2025

Dear Dr. Shigetoh,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

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PLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Partly

**********

2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? -->?>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available??>

The PLOS Data policy

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

**********

Reviewer #1: Dear authors,

Greetings.

The paper presents a solid foundation to support the objectives and hypothesis. The hypothesis was well formulated and adequately addressed.

However, from my point of view, in the section:

"Some studies have reported limited supportive effects of compression tights or raised concerns regarding movement restriction or unnatural changes in muscle activation [4]. Moreover, many existing studies are limited to short-term evaluations, and long-term effects and safety have not been thoroughly examined [5]."

More studies could be cited.

Additionally, the statements from lines 88 to 97, for instance, require proper citations. In general, it is important to avoid claims without references.

The statistical analysis was well conducted, using both parametric and non-parametric methods. Indeed, whenever possible, subjective data could be transformed into numerical information.

The conclusions are supported by the results.

Based on the considerations above, I believe that this article deserves to be published after Minor Revisions.

Reviewer #2: Thank you for the opportunity to review this article. This study addresses an interesting topic, namely the effects of functional compressive garments of fatigability during squat exercises. However, in my opinion, the manuscript is not yet suitable for publication.

Here are some suggestions on how to improve the manuscript:

1. This investigation examined the effects of functional compressive garments on muscular performance during a fatiguing protocol involving five muscles of the dominant lower extremity. A critical limitation in the interpretation of findings concerns the predominantly null results observed across four of the five examined muscles. The selective positive outcome in the vastus medialis, contrasted with the absence of significant effects in the vastus lateralis, warrants more thorough examination considering the biomechanical contributions of these muscles during squatting movements. The authors should clarify whether the measurements pertained specifically to the vastus medialis obliquus, as this distinction carries important functional implications. The emphasis placed on the singular positive finding in the vastus medialis appears disproportionate relative to the null findings, which constitute the majority of the observed outcomes. A more comprehensive discussion of the negative results is warranted, particularly given that isolated muscle-specific positive effects represent a recurring pattern in compression garment research that merits critical evaluation.

2. Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are missing.

3. References need to be formatted in a uniquely defined style.

4. The introduction and discussion sections are too long. For example, please delete lines 347-358 as this is a repetition of the results. Also, delete lines 402-405 as these concepts have already been mentioned earlier in the discussion. Also, add subheadings in the discussion.

5. Please be consistent throughout the manuscript with the terms “functional compression tights” and “functional tights”. These terms are currently used interchangeably, but the meaning is slightly different.

6. Similarly to point 4. It should be borne in mind that fatigue and muscle activity, although being interrelated phenomena, are distinct concepts. The authors use both terms in relation to the two parameters extracted from the EMG signal (MF and RMS), being sometimes indices of muscle activity and sometimes indices of muscle fatigue.

7. References 6, 7, 8 and 9 are obsolete. Consequently, the definition of fatigue used by the authors is obsolete. Please update to the new taxonomy initially proposed by Enoka and Duchateau (2016) and subsequently by Behrens et al. (2023). Replace the concepts of physical and mental fatigue with those of performance and perceived fatigability.

8. Many recent studies on the effects of compression garments on fatigue have not been cited (e.g. Wang and Li, 2022; Bajelani et al., 2021 and 2022; Belbasis and Fuss, 2018). Please update the bibliography.

9. Add p-values to the correlation analyses, in the results section. For example, the authors state in line 321 that a ‘significant positive correlation’ was found, but the p-value is missing.

10. The characterization of p=0.05 as representing a "trend toward significance" requires correction. As demonstrated by Nead et al. (2018), "There is no definition of a trend toward statistical significance and, therefore, describing 'almost significant' results as a trend introduces substantial subjectivity" and constitutes biased reporting practices. Such terminology lacks methodological rigor and may mislead readers regarding statistical evidence. To enhance precision and transparency in reporting, the authors should present p-values to three decimal places rather than rounding to two. This modification would provide readers with more accurate information for interpreting the statistical evidence and eliminate ambiguous language that undermines scientific objectivity.

MINOR COMMENTS

Title: I would add “during squat exercises”.

L91: add abbreviation of mean frequency

L111: add definition of the three frontal regions Fp1, Fp2, Fz. Actually, the definition appears to be at line 401.

L147 No patients were recruited in this study. Please modify.

L164 add city and state

L200 add reference for SENIAM

L208-9 see comment above

L225-8 Not clear. Please rephrase

L274 add “only” before the vastus medialis

L289 why the result on the Fz site is considered as “marginally significant trend” (p=0.05), whereas in the previous paragraph the result of RMS in BF was not (p=0.05)?

**********

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Reviewer #1: Yes: Tales Alexandre Aversi Ferreira

Reviewer #2: No

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PLoS One. 2025 Sep 5;20(9):e0331778. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331778.r002

Author response to Decision Letter 1

17 Jul 2025

17-July-2025

Dr. Emily Chenette

Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Hasan Sozen

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Manuscript for submission: "Evaluation of the fatigue reduction by functional compression tights during squat exercise via electromyography and electroencephalography analysis" (PONE-D-25-23745)

Dear Editor,

We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the valuable comments and suggestions provided by the reviewers regarding our manuscript entitled:

“Evaluation of the fatigue reduction by functional compression tights during squat exercises via electromyography and electroencephalography analysis” (PONE-D-25-23745).

We have carefully addressed all reviewer comments and revised the manuscript accordingly. Major changes include:

� Updating outdated references and incorporating more recent studies related to compression garments and fatigue.

� Refining the conceptual framework of fatigue based on the taxonomy proposed by Enoka and Duchateau (2016) and Behrens et al. (2023).

� Revising the discussion of muscle-specific effects, especially regarding the vastus medialis obliquus.

� Correcting inconsistencies in p-value reporting and eliminating ambiguous statistical terms.

� Improving clarity and conciseness by removing redundant statements and standardizing terminology throughout the manuscript.

All revisions in the manuscript are highlighted in red. We have also updated the reference format to comply with the Vancouver style as per journal requirements.

We sincerely thank you and the reviewers again for the thoughtful feedback, which helped us to substantially improve the quality and clarity of our manuscript. We hope that the revised version will now be acceptable for publication in PLOS ONE.

Sincerely,

Hayato Shigetoh, PhD

Department of Physical Therapy

Faculty of Health Science

Kyoto Tachibana University

Yamashina-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Tel.: +81-75-571-1111

Email: shigeto@tachibana-u.ac.jp

Reviewer #1:

Reviewer comments:

Dear authors,

Greetings.

The paper presents a solid foundation to support the objectives and hypothesis. The hypothesis was well formulated and adequately addressed.

However, from my point of view, in the section:

Response:

Thank you for reviewing our manuscript. Your comments were highly insightful and enabled us to greatly improve the quality of our manuscript. In the following pages are our point-by-point responses to each of the comments of the reviewers as well as your own comments. Revisions in the text are shown using red-colored font. Also, the paper has been edited and proofread by a professional native English speaking editing service.

Reviewer comments:

More studies could be cited.

Response:

Thank you for your suggestion. In response to your comment, we have added additional references to support the statements regarding the limited effects of compression tights, potential concerns about movement restriction, and the lack of long-term evaluations.

We have revised the following text:

Line 60: Some studies have reported inconsistent benefits or even adverse effects such as restricted movement or altered muscle activation [4–6]. Additionally, most research focuses on short-term effects, and the long-term efficacy and safety of these garments remain unclear [7,8].

Reviewer comments:

Additionally, the statements from lines 88 to 97, for instance, require proper citations. In general, it is important to avoid claims without references.

Response:

Thank you for your valuable comment regarding the use of EMG indicators for muscle fatigue assessment. In response, we have revised the relevant paragraph in the manuscript to clearly distinguish between time-domain and frequency-domain measures derived from EMG signals. Specifically, we now clarify that root mean square (RMS) is a time-domain indicator reflecting the amplitude of muscle activation, which may increase during early stages of fatigue due to greater motor unit recruitment, but may also decline under severe fatigue due to diminished contractile capacity. In contrast, mean frequency (MF) is a frequency-domain indicator that typically decreases during fatigue due to reduced muscle fiber conduction velocity. To support this explanation, we have added a citation We have revised the following text:

Line 75: Muscle fatigue can be objectively quantified using surface electromyography (EMG), which captures myoelectric changes in both time and frequency domains. In the time domain, root mean square (RMS) reflects the amplitude of muscle activation, typically increasing in early fatigue due to greater motor unit recruitment, then decreasing under severe fatigue. In the frequency domain, mean frequency (MF) generally decreases with progressive fatigue as muscle fiber conduction velocity slows. RMS and MF are therefore considered complementary indicators of muscle fatigue [11].

Reviewer comments:

The statistical analysis was well conducted, using both parametric and non-parametric methods. Indeed, whenever possible, subjective data could be transformed into numerical information.

The conclusions are supported by the results.

Based on the considerations above, I believe that this article deserves to be published after Minor Revisions.

Response:

Thank you very much for your valuable comments and suggestions. We have carefully addressed all of your points and revised the manuscript accordingly. Your feedback has been extremely helpful in improving the clarity, accuracy, and overall quality of the paper. We sincerely appreciate your contribution to enhancing our work.

Reviewer #2:

Reviewer comments:

Thank you for the opportunity to review this article. This study addresses an interesting topic, namely the effects of functional compressive garments of fatigability during squat exercises. However, in my opinion, the manuscript is not yet suitable for publication.

Here are some suggestions on how to improve the manuscript:

Response:

Reviewer comments:

Response:

Thank you for your insightful and constructive feedback. We acknowledge the importance of contextualizing the selective results observed in the vastus medialis.

In our study, surface EMG electrodes were specifically placed on the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), and we have revised the manuscript accordingly to clarify this anatomical specificity. The VMO plays a crucial role in patellar stabilization, especially during squatting movements, and may respond differently to external interventions than other quadriceps muscles (Powers, 2000).

We agree that the interpretation of isolated findings requires caution. However, previous studies have reported that compression garments can suppress muscle activity depending on the compression pressure and region applied (Leabeater et al., 2022; Broatch et al., 2020). Since the VMO region may receive distinct pressure profiles from functional compression tights, regional differences in pressure could contribute to the observed variation in EMG responses across muscles.

Moreover, the orientation of the compression bands relative to the muscle fiber direction has been shown to influence EMG activity (Chaudhari et al., 2014). Therefore, the configuration of the functional compression tights used in our study may have contributed to muscle-specific effects.

Importantly, the absence of significant changes in muscles other than the VMO may also be explained by such regional variations in compression intensity and the directionality of compression bands. These garment design factors likely result in differential mechanical and neuromuscular effects across muscle groups, thereby limiting the uniformity of compression-induced changes.

We have added a more balanced discussion in the revised manuscript to reflect both the observed null findings and the potential mechanisms underlying the isolated result in the VMO.

We have revised the following text:

Line 331: Wearing functional compression tights reduced subjective lower limb fatigue and selectively suppressed EMG activity in the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) after a fatiguing squat task. Since RMS typically increases with fatigue [11], the lower RMS observed in the VMO suggests reduced neuromuscular demand. This may be due to enhanced joint stability, as the VMO plays a key role in patellar tracking [24]. Prior studies have shown that compression garments can modulate muscle activity based on regional pressure and the alignment of compression bands with muscle fiber direction [25-27]. These factors may explain why no significant effects were found in other muscles like the rectus femoris or semitendinosus. Regional variation in compression strength and orientation may have limited the neuromuscular modulation in those areas. Although median frequency (MF), which reflects conduction velocity and fatigue progression, did not differ significantly, a trend toward preserved MF suggests attenuated fatigue-related decline [11]. In summary, functional compression tights may selectively delay fatigue in stabilizing muscles like the VMO, but localized effects depend on anatomical and garment-specific factors.

Reviewer comments:

2. Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are missing.

Response:

Thank you for pointing this out. We apologize for the oversight. Due to an upload error during the initial submission, Figures 3 through 9 were not properly included. We have now uploaded all missing figures as part of the revised submission. We appreciate your understanding.

Reviewer comments:

3. References need to be formatted in a uniquely defined style.

Response:

Thank you for your comment. In response, we have carefully revised the reference list to conform to the journal’s required formatting style. All references have been reviewed and reformatted accordingly to ensure consistency and compliance.

Reviewer comments:

Response:

Thank you for your valuable feedback. In response to your suggestion, we revised the manuscript by deleting redundant content in the Introduction and Discussion sections. Specifically, lines 347–358, which repeated the results, and lines 402–405, which overlapped conceptually with earlier text, were removed. Furthermore, we added subheadings to the Discussion to improve clarity and structure. We have carefully reviewed the entire manuscript to avoid unnecessary repetition and ensure conciseness.

Reviewer comments:

Response:

Thank you for your helpful comment. In response, we have revised the manuscript to ensure consistent use of terminology. Specifically, we have replaced all instances of “functional tights” with “functional compression tights” to accurately reflect the characteristics of the garment used in this study and to avoid potential confusion. This terminology has been standardized throughout the manuscript.

Reviewer comments:

Response:

Thank you for this important comment. We fully agree that muscle activity and muscle fatigue are distinct, though interrelated, physiological concepts. In response, we have carefully revised the manuscript to ensure consistent and precise use of terminology.

Specifically, we now clarify that root mean square (RMS) is a time-domain indicator that primarily reflects muscle activation, and may increase during fatigue due to enhanced motor unit recruitment and synchronization. In contrast, mean frequency (MF) is a frequency-domain indicator that reflects muscle fatigue, typically decreasing as muscle fiber conduction velocity declines. Therefore, while both RMS and MF are derived from the EMG signal, they represent complementary yet distinct aspects of muscle function during fatiguing tasks—RMS indicating temporal amplitude changes related to activation, and MF indicating spectral shifts associated with fatigue.

We have revised the following text:

Reviewer comments:

Response:

Thank you very much for this insightful comment. In response, we have removed the outdated description of fatigue based on the traditional classification into "physical" and "mental" fatigue. Instead, we have updated the conceptual framework of fatigue in accordance with the taxonomy proposed by Enoka and Duchateau (2016) and further elaborated by Behrens et al. (2023).

Specifically, we now define fatigue as a psychophysiological condition characterized by two interrelated components: performance fatigability (a measurable decline in task performance) and perceived fatigability (a subjective sensation of fatigue). Furthermore, we clarified that performance fatigability can be subdivided into motor performance fatigability and cognitive performance fatigability, depending on the nature of

Attachment

Submitted filename: Response to Reviewers.docx

pone.0331778.s004.docx^{(32.1KB, docx)}

PLoS One. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331778.r003

Decision Letter 1

Hasan Sozen

28 Jul 2025

Dear Dr. Shigetoh,

Please submit your revised manuscript by Sep 11 2025 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org . When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file.

A rebuttal letter that responds to each point raised by the academic editor and reviewer(s). You should upload this letter as a separate file labeled 'Response to Reviewers'.
A marked-up copy of your manuscript that highlights changes made to the original version. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Revised Manuscript with Track Changes'.
An unmarked version of your revised paper without tracked changes. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Manuscript'.

We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript.

Kind regards,

Hasan Sozen

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Journal Requirements:

If the reviewer comments include a recommendation to cite specific previously published works, please review and evaluate these publications to determine whether they are relevant and should be cited. There is no requirement to cite these works unless the editor has indicated otherwise.

Please review your reference list to ensure that it is complete and correct. If you have cited papers that have been retracted, please include the rationale for doing so in the manuscript text, or remove these references and replace them with relevant current references. Any changes to the reference list should be mentioned in the rebuttal letter that accompanies your revised manuscript. If you need to cite a retracted article, indicate the article’s retracted status in the References list and also include a citation and full reference for the retraction notice.

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

Reviewer #1: All comments have been addressed

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

**********

2. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

3. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? -->?>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

4. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available??>

The PLOS Data policy

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

5. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

Reviewer #1: All of my requested revisions were considered. The authors increased the number of references and edited and improved some paragraphs.

Reviewer #2: I would like to thank the authors for answering most of my questions and suggestions for improving their manuscript. There are still a few points that need to be fixed so that the manuscript can then be accepted for publication.

1. During my initial revision, I suggested that the authors update the definition of fatigue to that proposed by Duchateau and Enoka 10 years ago. However, the authors did not make corrections throughout the manuscript, so in the current form there is a lot of confusion around the term fatigue and fatigability, because both terms are used. For example, why did the authors not change the term “subjective fatigue” to the more correct and accurate term “perceived fatigability”? For example, what is “subjective lower limb fatigue”?

I again suggest that the authors be consistent with the terminology throughout the manuscript, including the abstract!

2. p-values

Once again, I strongly suggest that the authors use three decimal places in all results. For example, in Table 2, the decimal p-values are still limited to two. Please amend.

3. The issue about “trend toward significance”, which I pointed out in the first revision phase, has not been completely resolved. Please modify at lines 350-352.

4. Muscle terminology

The authors changed the term “vastus medialis” to the more precise “vastus medialis obliquus”. However, this has not been done throughout the manuscript. Please amend accordingly.

5. Figures

Many figures still contain Japanese terms. Please change them to English. Furthermore, the figures appear too small to be observed correctly by readers. Please edit.

Minor comments

L138, L149, L150, etc “a muscle fatigue task” --> a fatiguing task.

L184 Time --> time

L281 please add a space between “the” and “condition”.

**********

what does this mean? ). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy

Reviewer #1: Yes: Tales Alexandre Aversi-Ferreira

Reviewer #2: No

**********

PLoS One. 2025 Sep 5;20(9):e0331778. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331778.r004

Author response to Decision Letter 2

29 Jul 2025

29-July-2025

Dr. Emily Chenette

Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Hasan Sozen

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Manuscript for submission: "Evaluation of the reduction in perceived and performance fatigability by functional compression tights during squat exercise via electromyography and electroencephalography analysis" (PONE-D-25-23745)

Dear Editor,

We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the valuable comments and suggestions provided by the reviewers regarding our manuscript entitled:

“Evaluation of the reduction in perceived and performance fatigability by functional compression tights during squat exercise via electromyography and electroencephalography analysis” (PONE-D-25-23745).

In response to the reviewer comments, we have thoroughly revised the manuscript. Major modifications include:

� Clarification and standardization of terminology related to fatigue and fatigability throughout the manuscript, including the abstract, based on the taxonomy proposed by Enoka and Duchateau (2016).

� Replacement of the term “subjective fatigue” with the more accurate expression “perceived fatigability” where appropriate.

� Correction of p-value formatting, ensuring consistency to three decimal places across the abstract, results, tables, and figure legends.

� Removal of all instances of ambiguous statistical phrasing such as “trend toward significance,” in line with reviewer recommendations.

� Consistent use of the term “vastus medialis obliquus (VMO)” throughout the text.

� Complete revision of all figures to ensure English-only labeling and improved font sizes for readability. All revisions in the manuscript are highlighted in red. We have also updated the reference format to comply with the Vancouver style as per journal requirements.

All revisions are clearly marked using Track Changes in the manuscript.

We are grateful for the reviewers’ and editors’ comments, which have greatly improved the clarity and scientific rigor of our manuscript. We sincerely hope that the revised version is now suitable for publication in PLOS ONE.

Sincerely,

Hayato Shigetoh, PhD

Department of Physical Therapy

Faculty of Health Science

Kyoto Tachibana University

Yamashina-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Tel.: +81-75-571-1111

Email: shigeto@tachibana-u.ac.jp

Reviewer #1:

Reviewer comments:

All of my requested revisions were considered. The authors increased the number of references and edited and improved some paragraphs.

Response:

Thank you very much for your constructive feedback and thoughtful comments throughout the review process. We are grateful that all of your requested revisions were considered acceptable. Your suggestions have contributed significantly to improving the clarity, quality, and overall rigor of the manuscript. We believe that your comments have helped us develop a stronger and more impactful paper.

Reviewer #2:

Reviewer comments:

I would like to thank the authors for answering most of my questions and suggestions for improving their manuscript. There are still a few points that need to be fixed so that the manuscript can then be accepted for publication.

Response:

Thank you for reviewing our manuscript. Your comments were highly insightful and enabled us to greatly improve the quality of our manuscript. In the following pages are our point-by-point responses to each of the comments of the reviewers as well as your own comments. Revisions in the text are shown using Track Changes. Also, the paper has been edited and proofread by a professional native English speaking editing service.

Reviewer comments:

For example, why did the authors not change the term “subjective fatigue” to the more correct and accurate term “perceived fatigability”? For example, what is “subjective lower limb fatigue”?

I again suggest that the authors be consistent with the terminology throughout the manuscript, including the abstract!

Response:

Thank you for your valuable comment regarding the terminology of fatigue and fatigability. In response to your suggestion, we carefully reviewed the manuscript and revised the terminology throughout to ensure consistency and accuracy based on the definition proposed by Duchateau and Enoka. Specifically, we introduced the definition of fatigability in the Introduction and subsequently replaced terms such as “subjective fatigue” with “perceived fatigability” where appropriate, including in the Abstract, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. We appreciate your guidance, which helped us improve the conceptual clarity of the manuscript.

Reviewer comments:

2. p-values

Once again, I strongly suggest that the authors use three decimal places in all results. For example, in Table 2, the decimal p-values are still limited to two. Please amend.

Response:

Thank you for pointing this out again. In accordance with your suggestion, we have revised all p-values throughout the manuscript—including those in the Abstract, main text, tables, and figure legends—to consistently report values to three decimal places. We carefully re-checked each occurrence to ensure uniformity and precision in statistical reporting. We appreciate your attention to detail, which has contributed to the improvement of the manuscript’s clarity and scientific rigor.

Reviewer comments:

3. The issue about “trend toward significance”, which I pointed out in the first revision phase, has not been completely resolved. Please modify at lines 350-352.

Response:

Thank you for your insightful comment. In response, we thoroughly reviewed the manuscript, including the Abstract, Results, and Discussion sections, and removed or rephrased all instances of the expression “trend toward significance” as appropriate. These changes were made to ensure clarity and consistency in statistical reporting, and to avoid potentially ambiguous interpretations. We appreciate your guidance in improving the quality of the manuscript.

Reviewer comments:

4. Muscle terminology

The authors changed the term “vastus medialis” to the more precise “vastus medialis obliquus”. However, this has not been done throughout the manuscript. Please amend accordingly.

Response:

Thank you for your valuable suggestion. In accordance with your comment, we have carefully reviewed the entire manuscript and consistently replaced the term “vastus medialis” with the more precise term “vastus medialis obliquus” or its abbreviation “VMO” where appropriate. This ensures anatomical accuracy and clarity throughout the manuscript.

Reviewer comments:

5. Figures

Many figures still contain Japanese terms. Please change them to English.

Furthermore, the figures appear too small to be observed correctly by readers. Please edit.

Response:

Thank you for your helpful comment. In response, we thoroughly reviewed all figures to ensure that no Japanese terms remain and confirmed that all labels and annotations are now fully presented in English. Additionally, we have adjusted the font sizes and overall layout of each figure to improve visibility and clarity, ensuring they can be easily interpreted by readers. All revised figures have been resubmitted accordingly.

Reviewer comments:

Minor comments

L138, L149, L150, etc “a muscle fatigue task” --> a fatiguing task.

Response:

I have revised it.

Reviewer comments:

L184 Time --> time

Response:

I have revised it.

Reviewer comments:

L281 please add a space between “the” and “condition”.

Response:

I have revised it.

Attachment

Submitted filename: Response_to_Reviewers_auresp_2.docx

pone.0331778.s005.docx^{(23.6KB, docx)}

PLoS One. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331778.r005

Decision Letter 2

Hasan Sozen

21 Aug 2025

Evaluation of the reduction in perceived and performance fatigability by functional compression tights during squat exercises via electromyography and electroencephalography analysis

PONE-D-25-23745R2

Dear Dr. Shigetoh,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Hasan Sozen

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Reviewers' comments:

PLoS One. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331778.r006

Acceptance letter

Hasan Sozen

PONE-D-25-23745R2

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Shigetoh,

I'm pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been deemed suitable for publication in PLOS ONE. Congratulations! Your manuscript is now being handed over to our production team.

At this stage, our production department will prepare your paper for publication. This includes ensuring the following:

* All references, tables, and figures are properly cited

* All relevant supporting information is included in the manuscript submission,

* There are no issues that prevent the paper from being properly typeset

You will receive further instructions from the production team, including instructions on how to review your proof when it is ready. Please keep in mind that we are working through a large volume of accepted articles, so please give us a few days to review your paper and let you know the next and final steps.

Lastly, if your institution or institutions have a press office, please let them know about your upcoming paper now to help maximize its impact. If they'll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team within the next 48 hours. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org.

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Kind regards,

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on behalf of

Assoc. Prof. Hasan Sozen

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

S1 Data. Electromyography data used in the study.

(XLSX)

pone.0331778.s001.xlsx^{(29.7KB, xlsx)}

S2 Data. Electroencephalography data used in the study.

(XLSX)

pone.0331778.s002.xlsx^{(28.8KB, xlsx)}

S3 Data. Subjective fatigue scores recorded by NRS.

(XLSX)

pone.0331778.s003.xlsx^{(9.6KB, xlsx)}

Attachment

Submitted filename: Response to Reviewers.docx

pone.0331778.s004.docx^{(32.1KB, docx)}

Attachment

Submitted filename: Response_to_Reviewers_auresp_2.docx

pone.0331778.s005.docx^{(23.6KB, docx)}

Data Availability Statement

All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting Information files.

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PERMALINK

Evaluation of the reduction in perceived and performance fatigability by functional compression tights during squat exercises via electromyography and electroencephalography analysis

Takuma Isshiki

Shinnosuke Tsukada

Minami Akao

Yuna Ishikura

Hayato Shigetoh

Takayuki Kodama

Junya Miyazaki

Roles

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Introduction

Participants and methods

Participants

Research protocol

Fig 1. Research protocol.

Fig 2. Assessment protocol.

Fatiguing task (squat exercise)

Recording and analysis of muscle activities

Recording and analysis of brain wave activities

Perceived fatigability

Statistical analyses

Results

Differences in perceived fatigability between conditions

Fig 3. Comparison of perceived fatigability between conditions.

Muscle activity indicators by condition

Table 1. Muscle activity indicators by condition.

Fig 4. Box plots of muscle activity indicators by condition.

Differences in EEG activity between conditions

Table 2. Brain wave activity indicators by condition.

Fig 5. Box plots of brain wave activity indicators by condition.

Relationships between perceived fatigability and EMG/EEG indicators

Fig 6. Correlation heatmaps: Perceived fatigability, EMG, and EEG indicators by condition.

Relationships between muscle activity and EEG indicators

Fig 7. Heatmap of correlation coefficients between muscle activity and EEG indicators with functional compression tights condition.

Fig 8. Heatmap of correlation coefficients between muscle activity and EEG Indicators without functional compression tights condition.

Discussion

Overview of results

Effects of compression tights on motor performance fatigability

Effects of compression tights on cognitive performance fatigability

Interaction among perceived fatigability, muscle activity, and cortical responses

Clinical and functional implications of neurophysiological findings

Limitations and future directions

Conclusion

Supporting information

Acknowledgments

Data Availability

Funding Statement

References

Decision Letter 0

Hasan Sozen

Roles

Author response to Decision Letter 1

Decision Letter 1

Hasan Sozen

Roles

Author response to Decision Letter 2

Decision Letter 2

Hasan Sozen

Roles

Acceptance letter

Hasan Sozen

Roles

Associated Data

Supplementary Materials

Data Availability Statement

ACTIONS

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