MedPath

Photobiomodulation (PBM) Therapy on Muscle Performance in Elderly Women

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Muscle Strength
Aged
Resistance Training
Lasers
Performance
Interventions
Radiation: Active laser
Radiation: Placebo laser
Registration Number
NCT04241991
Lead Sponsor
Universidade Norte do Paraná
Brief Summary

The present project aims to investigate the acute and chronic effects of laser photobiomodulation (PBM) at 808 nm on muscle performance in physically active elderly women. The hypothesis of this study is that laser PBM would improve muscle strength (i.e., MVIC and 1RM) and endurance (i.e., repetitions-to-failure, blood lactate levels), functional capacity (i.e., short physical performance battery score), and rating of perceived exertion when compared with placebo laser.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study will be to investigate the acute and chronic effects of laser PBM (λ: 808 nm) on muscle performance in physically active elderly women. For this purpose, the participants will be enrolled in two trials: Trial 1: Initially, all participants (n = 20/group) will be submitted for a 1-wk familiarization period (3 non-consecutive sessions) of functional tests (i.e., standing balance, gait speed, and chair stand tests) from short physical performance battery (SPPB), knee flexion-extension exercise (3 sets of 10-12 repetitions), maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), balance test on a force platform, and one-repetition maximum (1RM) test for knee extension exercise. Thereafter, participants will be randomized to receive 1 of 2 treatments (active or placebo laser) on two occasions (T1 and T2), separated by a 7-day washout period. During T1 and T2, participants will receive their respective treatments and then perform the muscle performance tests, separated by 10 minutes, in the following order: SPPB, MVIC, and repetitions-to-failure. After the last test, the participants will be instructed to reported the perceived exertion by OMNI scale, and a blood sample will be collected for measurement of blood lactate levels. Differences between groups will be assessed using a 2-tailed paired t-test. The significance level will be 0.05. Trial 2: participants will be randomized into two groups (n = 20/group): active laser or placebo laser. Both groups will be submitted for a 10-wk resistance training program (2 x/week) involving unilateral knee extension exercise. The following variables will be assessed from pre-to post-training: anthropometric, muscle thickness from vastus lateralis muscle using ultrasound, MVIC, 1RM, repetition-to-failure, and balance variables on a force platform. Shapiro-Wilk and Levine tests will be used to test the normality and homogeneity of the measurements, respectively. Two-way ANOVA (group x time) tests for repeated measures will be performed to assess changes over time and between groups for all dependent variables. Violation of sphericity will adjust using Greenhouse-Geser correction. The Bonferroni post-hoc test will detect specific differences between groups. When appropriate, the percentage of change (∆%) will be reported according to the following equation: ∆% = \[(pre-average post average) / pre-average mean\] × 100. Values will be express as mean ± standard deviation. O significance level α will be 0.05.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • Aged 65-80 y,
  • Classified as eutrophic (i.e., body mass index ≤ 27 kg/m2), and
  • Classified as physically active (i.e., performing at least 150 min/week of moderate physical activity) according to criteria of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) for elderly
Exclusion Criteria
  • To be tobacco product users
  • To make use of any ergogenic supplement within six months prior to the start of the study;
  • To make use of any medication that could affect the ability to perform the physical tests;
  • To have any physiological (e.g., cardiorespiratory and metabolic diseases, uncontrolled hypertension, or diabetes) or physical limitation (e.g., orthopedic or rheumatic diseases, muscular injury, fibromyalgia, or pain) that could affect the ability to perform the physical tests, or
  • To be unable to understand the informed consent document and provide a detailed description of their lifestyle.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Active laserActive laserEach participant will receive the application of the active laser on the rectus femoris muscle during the trials 1 (acute) and 2 (chronic).
Placebo laserPlacebo laserEach participant will receive the application of the placebo laser on the rectus femoris muscle during the trials 1 (acute) and 2 (chronic).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in vastus lateralis thicknessBaseline and after 10 weeks

Muscle thickness measured by ultrasonography

Change in maximal dynamic strength by 1RMBaseline and after 10 weeks

1RM for knee extension exercise.

Change in balanceBaseline and after 10 weeks (Trial 2)

Balance performance using a force platform.

Change in MVICImmediately after intervention (Trial 1), and baseline and after 10 weeks (Trial 2)

MVIC using a portable fixed dynamometry (i.e., compression load cell)

Change in repetitions-to-failureImmediately after intervention (Trial 1), and baseline and after 10 weeks (Trial 2)

Repetitions-to-failure test on a knee extension machine.

Change in functional capacityImmediately after intervention (Trial 1).

Functional capacity measured by short physical performance battery (SPPB)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in perceived exertionImmediately after repetitions-to-failure test (trial 1)

Perceived exertion after repetitions-to-failure test using the OMNI scale

Change in lactate levelsImmediately after repetitions-to-failure test (trial 1)

Blood samples will be collected for analyse of the lactate levels after repetitions-to-failure test

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universidade Norte do Paraná

🇧🇷

Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath