Effects of photobiomodulation therapy in aerobic endurance training and detraining in humans: Protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) Vol. 98; no. 18; p. e15317
• Main Authors: de Paiva, Paulo Roberto Vicente, Casalechi, Heliodora Leão, Tomazoni, Shaiane Silva, Machado, Caroline dos Santos Monteiro, Miranda, Eduardo Foschini, Ribeiro, Neide Firmo, Pereira, Amanda Lima, da Costa, Amanda Sampaio, Dias, Luana Barbosa, Souza, Bianca Cristina Gomes, Aguiar Lino, Matheus Marinho, de Carvalho, Paulo de Tarso Camillo, Leal-Junior, Ernesto Cesar Pinto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc 01-05-2019; Wolters Kluwer Health
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Athletic Performance - physiology; Athletic Performance - statistics & numerical data; Body Fat Distribution - statistics & numerical data; Endurance Training - methods; Exercise Test - methods; Humans; Low-Level Light Therapy - adverse effects; Low-Level Light Therapy - methods; Male; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Performance-Enhancing Substances - adverse effects; Placebos; Study Protocol Clinical Trial; Young Adult
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000015317
• EISSN: 1536-5964
• ISSN: 0025-7974

Over the last 10 years, it has been demonstrated that photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), also known as phototherapy, using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and/or light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) has ergogenic effects, improving athletic performance and also accelerating post-exercise recovery. However, many aspects related to these effects and its clinical applicability remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this project is to evaluate the ergogenic effects of PBMT in detraining after an aerobic endurance training protocol.
A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial will be carried out. Healthy male volunteers will be randomly distributed into 4 experimental groups: PBMT before and after training sessions + PBMT during detraining, PBMT before and after training sessions + placebo during detraining, placebo before and after training sessions + PBMT during detraining, and placebo before and after training sessions + placebo during detraining. The aerobic endurance training sessions will be carried out using motorized treadmills during 12 weeks, and the detraining period will consist in the next 4 weeks after that. It will be analyzed the time until exhaustion, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and fat percentage of volunteers.
Despite the increasing body of evidence for the use of PBMT as an ergogenic agent, several aspects remain unknown. The findings of this study will contribute to the advance of knowledge in this field regarding clinical applications.
This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Nove de Julho University. The results from this study will be further disseminated through scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international scientific meetings.
NCT03879226.