Effects of laser therapy on muscle function, exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory responses to exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Grant number: 11/15455-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Simone Dal Corso
• Grantee: Eduardo Foschini Miranda
• Host Institution: Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). Campus Memorial. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The peripheral muscle dysfunction is a commom finding in patients with COPD since two thirds of patients stop the exercise due muscle fatigue as a limiting symptom or associated with dyspnea. In this context, the purpose of this study is to assess the effects of the lasertherapy on muscle function, exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory responses in isometric and dynamic exercise (incremental exercise on a cycle ergometer) in patients with COPD. Twenty seven patients will be selected (sample size calculation) with moderate to severe obstruction (FEV1 less than 70% of predicted) and stable disease. Patients carry out protocols for dynamic and isometric exercise in two visits, with a total of four visits. Patients will perform: maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of quadriceps femoris (QF), submaximal isometric contraction (SIC) with 60% of MVIC with concomitant eletromyograph. The application of lasers (LED) or placebo will be randomized. The protocol of dynamic exercise will follow the same procedure only instead of the SIC test is performed incremental cycle ergometer test. Subsequently, the electromyographic variables will be compared before and after isometric and dynamic protocols. Differences in the variables of muscle function, exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory responses to exercise will be analyzed. The therapeutic effects of laser therapy could minimize muscle fatigue in patients with COPD, increasing exercise tolerance. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MIRANDA, EDUARDO FOSCHINI; PINTO LEAL-JUNIOR, ERNESTO CESAR; MARCHETTI, PAULO HENRIQUE; DAL CORSO, SIMONE. Acute effects of light emitting diodes therapy (LEDT) in muscle function during isometric exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial. Lasers in Medical Science, v. 29, n. 1, p. 359-365, JAN 2014. (10/52404-0, 11/15455-8)