title: Effect of low-level laser therapy (808 nm) on skeletal muscle after endurance exercise training in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been demonstrated to be effective in optimizing skeletal muscle performance in animal experiments and in clinical trials. However, little is known about the effects of LLLT on muscle recovery after endurance training.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) applied after an endurance training protocol on biochemical markers and morphology of skeletal muscle in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were divided into control group (CG), trained group (TG), and trained and laser irradiated group (TLG). The endurance training was performed on a treadmill, 1 h/day, 5 days/wk, for 8 wk at 60% of the maximal speed reached during the maximal effort test (Tmax) and laser irradiation was applied after training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both trained groups showed significant increase in speed compared to the CG. The TLG demonstrated a significantly reduced lactate level, increased tibialis anterior (TA) fiber cross-section area, and decreased TA fiber density. Myogenin expression was higher in soleus and TA muscles in both trained groups. In addition, LLLT produced myogenin downregulation in the TA muscle of trained animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that LLLT could be an effective therapeutic approach for stimulating recovery during an endurance exercise protocol.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela M P
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Magri
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências do Movimento Humano, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Liria
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Renno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology