Clinical trial NCT02493556: Effect of Low-level Laser Therapy on Exercise-induced Muscle Damage
Official title: Effect of Low-level Laser Therapy on Exercise-induced Muscle Damage: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Muscle Damage
Keywords: Phototherapy
Plyometric exercise
Muscle recovery
Lead sponsor: Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2015-07-09
Enrollment: 12
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 35
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

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.


Eligibility criteria: 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.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Knee extensors isometric peak torque (Nm)
timeFrame: Baseline and 24, 48 and 72 hours follow-up
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Knee extensors soreness (Visual Analogue scale)
timeFrame: Baseline and 24, 48 and 72 hours follow-up
measure: Knee extensors echo intensity (number of white and black pixels)
timeFrame: Baseline and 24, 48 and 72 hours follow-up
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Porto Alegre
country: Brazil
facility: Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre
state: RS
Study officials:
affiliation: Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre
name: Bruno Baroni, phD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References: