Photobiomodulation by light emitting diode applied sequentially does not alter performance in cycling athletes

Author(s)

de Carvalho, Gabriela ^[1] ; Gobbi, Aline ^[1] ; Gobbi, Ronaldo Bucken ^[1] ; Ngonga Alfredo, Damiao Miranda ^{[1, 2]} ; do Carmo Furquim, Thales Henrique ^[1] ; Barbosa, Rafael Inacio ^[1] ; Papoti, Marcelo ^[1] ; de Jesus Guirro, Rinaldo Roberto ^{[3, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Hlth Sci, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Angola Methodist Univ, Luanda - Angola

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Ave Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Lasers in Medical Science; FEB 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Analyze the effects of sequential application of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) at different wavelengths on the performance of cycling athletes. Cyclists (48 male, mean age 33.77 years) underwent a performance evaluation through an incremental test, VO2max, blood lactate analysis, perception of effort, infrared thermography, and isokinetic evaluations. Photobiomodulation (180 J) with infrared (IR 940 +/- 10 nm), red (RED 620 +/- 10 nm), mixed Red, and IR (RED/IR 620 + 940 nm) or Sham (disabled device) intervention occurred on three consecutive days and was applied to the quadriceps femoris bilaterally. Reevaluations were performed 24 h after the last application, with 1 week of follow-up. A significance level of 5% was adopted, and the effect size (ES) was calculated by Cohen's d. Results: There were no significant differences in the analyzed variables under any experimental condition (p > 0.005), but a moderate effect size was observed for torque peak at 60 degrees/s on left lower limb (LLL) (ES = 0.67), average power at 60 degrees/s of the right lower limb (RLL) (0.73), and LLL (ES = 0.65) and a considerable effect size in torque peak at 60 degrees/s of the RLL (ES = 0.98) in the IR/RED group compared with sham 24 h after the last application. Moreover, a large effect size was observed for total time to exhaustion (ES = 1.98) and for VO2max (ES = 6.96), and a moderate effect size was seen for anaerobic threshold (ES = 0.62) in the IR/RED group compared with sham. Photobiomodulation, when not associated with training, was not able to produce a cumulative effect on the performance of cycling athletes. However, the association of two wavelengths seems to be better for increased performance. Identifier: NCT03225976 (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/13997-4 - Effect of phototherapy with light-emitting diode (led) on the capacities of force and resistance in cycling athletes
• Grantee: Gabriela de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master