Infrared Laser and Classical Ballerinas' Feet

Effects of the Infrared Laser on Classical Ballerinas' Feet

Overuse injuries and painful symptoms in athletes and dancers (especially classical ballerinas) may lead to reduced functional performance. However, laser application may reduce pain and increase physical conditioning. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of infrared laser on classical ballerinas' feet. The hypothesis investigators was that the infrared laser would be able to reduce pain perception and enhance functional performance in ballerinas.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Infrared Laser

Detailed Description

High risk of injuries and painful symptoms in athletes and dancers (especially classical ballerinas) may lead to reduced functional performance. The use of photobiomodulation may improve functional performance in ballerinas that are affected by foot pain. An aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) diode laser device was uded. Infrared laser (808 nm) was applied on ballerina's feet twice a week during three months. Thermography, algometry and unipodal static standing balance test were performed. There were pain relief and improvement of functional performance in ballerinas.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 8
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • São Paulo
    • São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, 13569600
      • Fernanda Rossi Paolillo

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 25 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Female adults who perform classical ballet training and feel pain in their foot

Exclusion Criteria:

- The occurrence of injuries in the last 6 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Treatment; Laser treatment on ballerina's feet.

Device: Infrared Laser; An aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) diode laser device (Twin laser, MMOptics, São Carlos, SP, Brazil) was used. The irradiation parameters were as follows: infrared laser (808 nm wavelength) with a spot area of 0.04 cm2, and an average optical power of 100 mW operated in a continuous mode during 1 minute per point, leading to an irradiance of 2,500 mW/cm2, energy of 6 J and fluence of 125 J/cm2 per point. The laser was applied on ballerina's feet twice a week during three months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Analysis of pain for feet by algometry	Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed with an electronic algometer. The pressure was applied and the ballerinas were instructed to ask to say "stop" when the sensation changed from pressure to pain. Three PPT measurements were performed to obtain an average.	3 months
Analysis of pain for feet by the visual analogue pain intensity scale	A continuous scale comprised of a horizontal line with 10 centimeters in length was used. All ballerinas were instructed to make a mark with a pen at any point on the line between 2 verbal descriptors, one for each symptom extreme ["No pain" (score=0) and "as bad as it could be" or "worst imaginable pain" (score=10)].	3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Balance Test	Static Standing Balance Test was performed. Ballerinas were instructed to stand on one foot to a maximum of one minute. The time was measured in seconds.	3 months
Thermal Analysis	Cutaneous temperatures of ballerina's feet were analyzed by thermography.	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Leal Junior EC, Lopes-Martins RA, Rossi RP, De Marchi T, Baroni BM, de Godoi V, Marcos RL, Ramos L, Bjordal JM. Effect of cluster multi-diode light emitting diode therapy (LEDT) on exercise-induced skeletal muscle fatigue and skeletal muscle recovery in humans. Lasers Surg Med. 2009 Oct;41(8):572-7. doi: 10.1002/lsm.20810.
• Paolillo FR, Paolillo AR, Joao JP, Frasca D, Duchene M, Joao HA, Bagnato VS. Ultrasound plus low-level laser therapy for knee osteoarthritis rehabilitation: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Rheumatol Int. 2018 May;38(5):785-793. doi: 10.1007/s00296-018-4000-x. Epub 2018 Feb 26.
• Adabbo M, Paolillo FR, Bossini PS, Rodrigues NC, Bagnato VS, Parizotto NA. Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy Applied Before Treadmill Training on Recovery of Injured Skeletal Muscle in Wistar Rats. Photomed Laser Surg. 2016 May;34(5):187-93. doi: 10.1089/pho.2015.4031. Epub 2016 Apr 8.
• Shah S. Determining a young dancer's readiness for dancing on pointe. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2009 Nov-Dec;8(6):295-9. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181c1ddf1.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 25, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): July 28, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 28, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 25, 2020
• Last Verified: July 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pain; Feet; Ballerinas
• Other Study ID Numbers: Ballet

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: No plan

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No