Sports Performance, Injury Prevention, Muscle Damage, Musculoskeletal Pain
Conditions
Keywords
phototherapy, laser therapy, muscle fatigue, muscle damage
Brief summary
Introduction: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is based on the emission of light ranging from red to near-infrared spectra by different devices based on diode lasers or light-emitting diodes. These devices emitting different wavelengths can increase mitochondrial activity and energy synthesis (ATP - adenosine triphosphate) that in turn can help to prevent muscle damage, decrease muscle fatigue and enhance muscle performance. Thus, PBMT can be a promising therapeutic resource in the sports field. Objectives: The aim of this study is to verify the effect of PBMT on the muscle performance and prevention of muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in professional soccer players submitted to a muscle damage protocol. Methodology: The present study is a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial following the CONSORT guidelines.
Detailed description
Participants will be allocated into 3 balanced randomized groups, as follows: 1) PBMT post muscle damage protocol (PBMT-post); 2) PBMT pre (PBMT-pre) and 3) PBMT placebo (PBMT-sham). All groups will be submitted to a) anamnesis; b) measurement of blood levels of creatine phosphokinase (CK); c) delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS); d) muscle performance tests (Squat Jump test (SJ) and Counter Movement Jump (CMJ)); e) dynamometry of the knee extensor muscles. Whole body PBMT will be applied according to the groups, during 10 min (sham or effective), with an effective dose of 48.97 J/cm2 and irradiance of 81.62 mW/cm2. Muscle damage protocol will consist of 8 exercises for lower limb muscles, with 3 sets of 10 repetitions each, 1 minute of rest between sets, and 2 minutes of rest between exercises. Next, participants will be evaluated for levels of CK, DOMS and muscle performance (SJ, CMJ, dynamometry) at 24, 48 and 72 hours after muscle damage protocol. Data will be analyzed and compared between groups with a significance level of 5%.
Interventions
OTHERMuscle damage protocol training
The adopted protocol of muscle damage will follow the recommendations from American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in 2009 for trained individuals. It consists of 8-12 repetitions above 70% of 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM) with 1 minute of rest between sets and 2 minutes between exercises. The protocol will be composed as follows: 3 sets of 10 repetitions for each exercise, with an emphasis on producing microlesions in the muscle tissue (muscle damage protocol).
PBMT will be administered using a whole-body irradiation system (Joovv Elite System, Joovv Inc.), consisting of 6 panels with 76 red LEDs (660 ± 10 nm) and 74 infrared LEDs (850 ± 10 nm), totaling 900 LEDs covering an area of 12,193 cm². Athletes will stand 20 cm in front of the device, wearing only swim shorts to expose their thigh muscles and other body areas to the light. The total irradiation time will be 20 minutes, with 10 minutes (600 seconds) of irradiation for the anterior region and another 10 minutes (600 seconds) for the posterior region. The active PBMT dose applied in each region (anterior or posterior) will be 48.97 J/cm², with an irradiance of 81.62 milliwatt (mW)/cm². The PBMT Sham dose applied in each region (anterior or posterior) will be 0 J/cm², with an irradiance of 0 mW/cm².
Sponsors
Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male individuals aged between 18 and 35 years, professional soccer players who engage in training at least 5 times a week, will be selected. Data collection will be conducted at the Desportivo Brasil Football Club, located in Porto Feliz, São Paulo. The sample will consist of team members, with a total of 30 athletes established to compose the sample. All data collection will take place in the same location.
Exclusion criteria
* Individuals with any impediment to physical activity or those presenting dysfunctions that may impair the neuromuscular system will be excluded.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement of Blood Levels of Creatine Phosphokinase (CK) | Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h | Mean serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) concentration (U/L), calculated as the average of four time points: Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h post-exercise. Higher values indicate greater muscle damage. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Squat Jump (SJ) Height | Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, 72h | Vertical jump height (cm) measured by the Squat Jump (SJ) test. Mean of four time points: Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h after the protocol. Higher values indicate better performance. |
| Muscle Performance Tests - Dynamometry | Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h | Peak isometric force (kgf) of knee extensors, measured with handheld dynamometry. Mean of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h after exercise. Higher values indicate better performance. |
| Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) | Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h | DOMS intensity assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; 0-10), where 0 = no soreness and 10 = worst possible soreness during knee extension. Higher scores indicate greater soreness. Mean of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h post-protocol. |
| Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height | Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, 72h | Vertical jump height (cm) measured by the Countermovement Jump (CMJ) test. Mean of four time points: Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h after the protocol. Higher values indicate better performance. |
Countries
Brazil
Participant flow
Pre-assignment details
Participants with injuries that prevented them from practicing sports were excluded.
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| PBMT Post Muscle Damage Protocol (PBMT-post) Group submitted to pre-exercise Sham (placebo) photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), and post-exercise active PBMT. | 10 |
| PBMT Pre (PBMT-pre) Group submitted to pre-exercise active photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), and post-exercise Sham (placebo) PBMT. | 10 |
| PBMT Placebo (PBMT-sham) Group submitted to pre-exercise and post-exercise photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) Sham (placebo). | 10 |
| Total | 30 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | PBMT Pre (PBMT-pre) | PBMT Placebo (PBMT-sham) | Total | PBMT Post Muscle Damage Protocol (PBMT-post) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 10 Participants | 10 Participants | 30 Participants | 10 Participants |
| Age, Continuous | 20 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1 | 20 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1 | 20 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1 | 20 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1 |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 10 Participants | 10 Participants | 30 Participants | 10 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment Brazil | 10 participants | 10 participants | 30 participants | 10 participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 10 Participants | 10 Participants | 30 Participants | 10 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk | EG002 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 10 | 0 / 10 | 0 / 10 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 10 | 0 / 10 | 0 / 10 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 10 | 0 / 10 | 0 / 10 |
Outcome results
Primary
Measurement of Blood Levels of Creatine Phosphokinase (CK)
Mean serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) concentration (U/L), calculated as the average of four time points: Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h post-exercise. Higher values indicate greater muscle damage.
Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBMT Post Muscle Damage Protocol (PBMT-post) | Measurement of Blood Levels of Creatine Phosphokinase (CK) | 287.8 U/L | Standard Deviation 199.09 |
| PBMT Pre (PBMT-pre) | Measurement of Blood Levels of Creatine Phosphokinase (CK) | 249.2 U/L | Standard Deviation 112.28 |
| PBMT Placebo (PBMT-sham) | Measurement of Blood Levels of Creatine Phosphokinase (CK) | 289.2 U/L | Standard Deviation 209.94 |
Secondary
Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height
Vertical jump height (cm) measured by the Countermovement Jump (CMJ) test. Mean of four time points: Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h after the protocol. Higher values indicate better performance.
Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, 72h
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBMT Post Muscle Damage Protocol (PBMT-post) | Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height | 39.36 cm | Standard Deviation 4.27 |
| PBMT Pre (PBMT-pre) | Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height | 41.56 cm | Standard Deviation 6.73 |
| PBMT Placebo (PBMT-sham) | Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height | 40.55 cm | Standard Deviation 4.28 |
Secondary
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
DOMS intensity assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; 0-10), where 0 = no soreness and 10 = worst possible soreness during knee extension. Higher scores indicate greater soreness. Mean of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h post-protocol.
Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBMT Post Muscle Damage Protocol (PBMT-post) | Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) | 3.00 points on NRS (0-10) | Standard Deviation 2 |
| PBMT Pre (PBMT-pre) | Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) | 3.80 points on NRS (0-10) | Standard Deviation 2.74 |
| PBMT Placebo (PBMT-sham) | Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) | 5.70 points on NRS (0-10) | Standard Deviation 2.05 |
Secondary
Muscle Performance Tests - Dynamometry
Peak isometric force (kgf) of knee extensors, measured with handheld dynamometry. Mean of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h after exercise. Higher values indicate better performance.
Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBMT Post Muscle Damage Protocol (PBMT-post) | Muscle Performance Tests - Dynamometry | 59.19 kgf (kilogram-force) | Standard Deviation 8.34 |
| PBMT Pre (PBMT-pre) | Muscle Performance Tests - Dynamometry | 53.45 kgf (kilogram-force) | Standard Deviation 8.63 |
| PBMT Placebo (PBMT-sham) | Muscle Performance Tests - Dynamometry | 55.58 kgf (kilogram-force) | Standard Deviation 10.45 |
Secondary
Squat Jump (SJ) Height
Vertical jump height (cm) measured by the Squat Jump (SJ) test. Mean of four time points: Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h after the protocol. Higher values indicate better performance.
Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, 72h
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBMT Post Muscle Damage Protocol (PBMT-post) | Squat Jump (SJ) Height | 37.38 cm | Standard Deviation 5.22 |
| PBMT Pre (PBMT-pre) | Squat Jump (SJ) Height | 38.91 cm | Standard Deviation 5.45 |
| PBMT Placebo (PBMT-sham) | Squat Jump (SJ) Height | 38.56 cm | Standard Deviation 4.09 |