Effect of Low-level Laser Therapy on Exercise-induced Muscle Damage

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Muscle Damage
• Interventions: Device: Placebo LLLT before muscle damage; Device: LLLT before muscle damage; Device: LLLT after muscle damage; Device: Placebo LLLT after muscle damage

• Registration Number: NCT02493556
• Lead Sponsor: Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre

Brief Summary

Introduction: The effects of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on exercise-induced muscular damage have been studied over the last years. Studies have been conducted on animals and humans in order to try to show the benefits of the intervention, but there is still conflicting evidence about its protective and therapeutic effects.

Objectives: To describe the effects of LLLT on pain, strength and muscular inflammation after plyometric exercise.

Methods: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial with participation of 20 male healthy volunteers will be performed. Healthy and physically active individuals, aged between 18 and 35 years, with no history of injury on the lower limbs or contra-indications to maximal exercise performance will be included. A protocol of 10 series with 10 repetitions of the countermovement jump will be used to induce muscle damage at the lower limbs. Immediately before or after the exercise protocol, LLLT will be applied on one lower limb, while the other will receive placebo treatment. Phototherapy will be applied with an equipment of 810nm and a cluster with 5 diodes on 8 different points of the knee extensor muscle, totalizing a dosage of 240J. The placebo treatment will be held on the same way, but the equipment will be turned off. The volunteers will be evaluated at baseline (before the exercise protocol) and at follow-up of 24, 48 and 72 hours. The following outcomes will be evaluated: knee extensors isometric peak torque by Isokinetic Dynamometer, pain by Visual Analogue Scale and muscular tissue echo intensity by Ultrasonography.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-06
• Status Verified: 2015-07
• Study First Submitted: 2015-07-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-07-08
• Study First Posted: 2015-07-09
• Primary Completion: 2015-08
• Study Completion: 2015-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-10-13
• Last Update Posted: 2015-10-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 12

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy males aged between 18 and 35 years;
• Sedentary or physically active individuals who exercise up to 3 times per week.

Exclusion Criteria

• Individuals who participate in systematic exercise training;
• Individuals who participate in strength training for the lower limbs;
• Individuals with lower or upper limb injuries;
• Individuals with contra-indications to maximal exercise performance (due to neurological, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions);
• Individuals who show difficulties to understand the study protocol.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo LLLT before muscle damage	Placebo LLLT before muscle damage	Placebo LLLT will be applied before the exercise protocol on one lower limb, while the other will receive real treatment. Placebo treatment will also be applied on eight different points of quadriceps muscle, but the equipment will be turned off.
LLLT before muscle damage	LLLT before muscle damage	Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) will be applied before the exercise protocol on one lower limb, while the other will receive placebo treatment. Phototherapy will be applied with an equipment of 810nm and a cluster with five diodes on eight different points of quadriceps muscle, totalizing a dosage of 240J.
LLLT after muscle damage	LLLT after muscle damage	Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) will be applied after the exercise protocol on one lower limb, while the other will receive placebo treatment. Phototherapy will be applied with an equipment of 810nm and a cluster with five diodes on eight different points of quadriceps muscle, totalizing a dosage of 240J.
Placebo LLLT after muscle damage	Placebo LLLT after muscle damage	Placebo LLLT will be applied after the exercise protocol on one lower limb, while the other will receive real treatment. Placebo treatment will also be applied on eight different points of quadriceps muscle, but the equipment will be turned off.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Knee extensors isometric peak torque (Nm)	Baseline and 24, 48 and 72 hours follow-up	Isokinetic Dynamometer

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Knee extensors soreness (Visual Analogue scale)	Baseline and 24, 48 and 72 hours follow-up
Knee extensors echo intensity (number of white and black pixels)	Baseline and 24, 48 and 72 hours follow-up

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre; 🇧🇷 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil