Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Pain, Feet, Ballerinas
Brief summary
Overuse injuries and painful symptoms in athletes and dancers (especially classical ballerinas) may lead to reduced functional performance. However, laser application may reduce pain and increase physical conditioning. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of infrared laser on classical ballerinas' feet. The hypothesis investigators was that the infrared laser would be able to reduce pain perception and enhance functional performance in ballerinas.
Detailed description
High risk of injuries and painful symptoms in athletes and dancers (especially classical ballerinas) may lead to reduced functional performance. The use of photobiomodulation may improve functional performance in ballerinas that are affected by foot pain. An aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) diode laser device was uded. Infrared laser (808 nm) was applied on ballerina's feet twice a week during three months. Thermography, algometry and unipodal static standing balance test were performed. There were pain relief and improvement of functional performance in ballerinas.
Interventions
DEVICEInfrared Laser
An aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) diode laser device (Twin laser, MMOptics, São Carlos, SP, Brazil) was used. The irradiation parameters were as follows: infrared laser (808 nm wavelength) with a spot area of 0.04 cm2, and an average optical power of 100 mW operated in a continuous mode during 1 minute per point, leading to an irradiance of 2,500 mW/cm2, energy of 6 J and fluence of 125 J/cm2 per point. The laser was applied on ballerina's feet twice a week during three months.
Sponsors
University of Sao Paulo
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
To evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of infrared laser on classical ballerinas' feet.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
\- Female adults who perform classical ballet training and feel pain in their foot
Exclusion criteria
\- The occurrence of injuries in the last 6 months
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis of pain for feet by algometry | 3 months | Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed with an electronic algometer. The pressure was applied and the ballerinas were instructed to ask to say stop when the sensation changed from pressure to pain. Three PPT measurements were performed to obtain an average. |
| Analysis of pain for feet by the visual analogue pain intensity scale | 3 months | A continuous scale comprised of a horizontal line with 10 centimeters in length was used. All ballerinas were instructed to make a mark with a pen at any point on the line between 2 verbal descriptors, one for each symptom extreme \[No pain (score=0) and as bad as it could be or worst imaginable pain (score=10)\]. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Balance Test | 3 months | Static Standing Balance Test was performed. Ballerinas were instructed to stand on one foot to a maximum of one minute. The time was measured in seconds. |
| Thermal Analysis | 3 months | Cutaneous temperatures of ballerina's feet were analyzed by thermography. |
Countries
Brazil
Outcome results
None listed