Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and/or cryotherapy in skeletal muscle restitution, what is better? A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Cryotherapy for post-exercise recovery remains widely used despite the lack of quality evidence. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) studies (with both low-level laser therapy and light-emitting diode therapy) have demonstrated positive scientific evidence to suggest its use. The study aims to evaluate PBMT and cryotherapy as a single or combined treatment on skeletal muscle recovery after eccentric contractions of knee extensors. Fifty healthy male volunteers were recruited and randomized into five groups (PBMT, cryotherapy, cryotherapy + PBMT, PMBT + cryotherapy, or placebo) for a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial that evaluated exercise performance (maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and muscle damage (creatine kinase (CK)). Assessments were performed at baseline; immediately after; and at 1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Comparator treatments was performed 3 min after exercise and repeated at 24, 48, and 72 h. PBMT was applied employing a cordless, portable GameDay™device (combination of 905 nm super-pulsed laser and 875- and 640-nm light-emitting diodes (LEDs); manufactured by Multi Radiance Medical™, Solon - OH, USA), and cryotherapy by flexible rubber ice packs. PBMT alone was optimal for post-exercise recovery with improved MVC, decreased DOMS, and CK activity (p < 0.05) from 24 to 96 h compared to placebo, cryotherapy, and cryotherapy + PBMT. In the PBMT + cryotherapy group, the effect of PBMT was decreased (p > 0.05) but demonstrated significant improvement in MVC, decreased DOMS, and CK activity (p < 0.05). Cryotherapy as single treatment and cryotherapy + PBMT were similar to placebo (p > 0.05). We conclude that PBMT used as single treatment is the best modality for enhancement of post-exercise restitution, leading to complete recovery to baseline levels from 24 h after high-intensity eccentric contractions.
Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, 01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.|Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Paulo Roberto Vicente
PR
de Paiva
Department of Pharmacology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Shaiane Silva
SS
Tomazoni
Multi Radiance Medical, Solon, OH, USA.
Douglas Scott
DS
Johnson
Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, 01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.|Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Adriane Aver
AA
Vanin
Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, 01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.|Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Gianna Móes
GM
Albuquerque-Pontes
Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, 01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Caroline Dos Santos Monteiro
CD
Machado
Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, 01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Heliodora Leão
HL
Casalechi
Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, 01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.|Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.|Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Paulo de Tarso Camillo
PT
de Carvalho
Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, 01504-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ernesto.leal.junior@gmail.com.|Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ernesto.leal.junior@gmail.com.|Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ernesto.leal.junior@gmail.com.
Ernesto Cesar Pinto
EC
Leal-Junior
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D007834:Lasers; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D003402:Creatine Kinase
Exercise recovery; Light-emitting diodes; Low-level laser therapy; Performance; Phototherapy