Red Light Therapy: a Potential Strategy to Reduce Sports Injury Risk?
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 40
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study investigates whether near-infrared light therapy can acutely improve ankle dorsiflexion mobility and hamstring flexibility, two factors associated with sports injury risk. Healthy adult students will complete three randomized conditions: a control session, a 10-minute cycling warm-up, and a 10-minute exposure to a red and near-infrared LED panel (MITO LIGHT®). Mobility and flexibility will be assessed before and after each condition using the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and the Active Knee Extension Test (AKET). The study aims to determine whether photobiomodulation may serve as a potential strategy to reduce musculoskeletal injury risk.
Detailed Description
This randomized crossover study examines the acute effects of near-infrared LED-based photobiomodulation on ankle dorsiflexion mobility and hamstring flexibility in healthy adults. Each participant will complete three sessions in randomized order: (1) control, (2) 10-minute cycling warm-up, and (3) 10-minute exposure to a red and near-infrared LED panel (MITO LIGHT®), emitting wavelengths range of 800-860 nm. The LED panel will be positioned at 15 cm distance at 100% intensity. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and the Active Knee Extension Test (AKET). The study is conducted at the Human Movement Laboratory of the University of Aveiro and follows ethical approval from the CEIC-UA. Data will be anonymized and processed according to GDPR. The goal is to determine whether photobiomodulation may contribute to reducing sports injury risk by improving key biomechanical parameters.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Basic Science
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Active and healthy university students
- •No current pain or injury in the lower limbs
- •Ability to perform the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and Active Knee Extension Test (AKET)
- •Availability to attend all three sessions with at least 72 hours between assessments
- •Signed informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Use of photosensitizing medication currently or within the past 3 weeks (as collected in the medical questionnaire)
- •Recent musculoskeletal injury of the lower limbs or any sports-related injury with relevant downtime
- •Presence of pain, joint limitation, or any medical condition preventing safe performance of KWT or AKET
Arms & Interventions
Control
10 minutes lying-down rest before assessments
Cycling Warm-up
10 minutes cycling warm-up before assessments
Intervention: Cycling Warm-up (Other)
Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation
10 minutes Near-Infrared exposure before assessments
Intervention: Near-infrared photobiomodulation (Device)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion
Time Frame: Immediately before and immediately after each condition (control, cycling warm-up, and near-infrared photobiomodulation)
Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion will be assessed using the weight-bearing lunge test (knee-to-wall test). The distance from the hallux to the wall (cm) will be measured with the knee touching the wall and the heel on the floor. Higher values indicate greater dorsiflexion mobility
Secondary Outcomes
- Hamstring flexibility(Immediately before and immediately after each condition (control, cycling warm-up, and near-infrared photobiomodulation))
Investigators
Cláudio da Silva Ferreira
Physical Therapist
Aveiro University