Photobiomodulation Therapy at 808 nm Does Not Improve Biceps Brachii Performance to Exhaustion and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness in Young Adult Women: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial

Ricardo Henrique Esquivel Azuma, Jeanne Karlette Merlo, Jeferson Lucas Jacinto, Jayne Maria Borim, Rubens Alexandre da Silva, Francis Lopes Pacagnelli, Joao Pedro Nunes, Alex Silva Ribeiro, Andreo Fernando Aguiar, Ricardo Henrique Esquivel Azuma, Jeanne Karlette Merlo, Jeferson Lucas Jacinto, Jayne Maria Borim, Rubens Alexandre da Silva, Francis Lopes Pacagnelli, Joao Pedro Nunes, Alex Silva Ribeiro, Andreo Fernando Aguiar

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of laser photobiomodulation (PBM) at 808 nm on biceps brachii performance to exhaustion, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in untrained young women.

Methods: Thirteen young women (20.1 ± 2.9 years) participated in a crossover study in which they received, in a counterbalanced manner, active and placebo laser PBM on two occasions (T1 and T2), separated by a 7-day washout period. During T1 and T2, participants received active (100 mW output power, irradiance of 35.7 W cm-2, and total energy of 28 J/arm) or placebo laser irradiation on the biceps brachii muscle at 20 min before the repetitions-to-failure test [six sets at 60% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) until failure] for elbow flexion exercise. The number of repetitions performed and RPE over the six sets, as well as DOMS from basal up to 72 h after the repetitions-to-failure test, were recorded.

Results: There was a significant (time, p < 0.05) reduction in the number of repetitions performed and an increase in RPE over six sets, with no statistical differences between placebo and active laser conditions (treatment × time, p > 0.05). DOMS increased at 24 h postexercise and progressively returned to baseline after 72 h in both conditions (time, p < 0.05; treatment × time, p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Our results indicate that acute laser PBM at 808 nm does not improve biceps brachii performance to exhaustion, RPE, and DOMS in untrained women.

Keywords: exercise; fatigue; low-level light therapy; pain; physical functional performance; resistance training.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2021 Azuma, Merlo, Jacinto, Borim, da Silva, Pacagnelli, Nunes, Ribeiro and Aguiar.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Experimental design.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Treatment points (black circles) over biceps brachii muscle.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Number of repetitions to failure over six sets (S1–S6) (A) and corresponding total repetitions (sum of all sets) (B) during elbow flexion exercise in the active and placebo laser conditions (N = 13). Data are means ± SD. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences over time between conditions. Different letters indicate significant (p < 0.05) difference between time points for both groups.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) immediately before the next set began (after the 60-s rest) (A) and corresponding total RPE (sum of all sets, S1–S6) (B) of the repetitions-to-failure test in the active and placebo laser conditions (N = 13). Data are means ± SD. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences over time between conditions. Different letters indicate significant (p < 0.05) difference between time points for both groups.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) during the recovery days (basal to 72 h postexercise) (A) and corresponding total DOMS (sum of all times) (B) in the active and placebo laser conditions (N = 13). Data are means ± SD. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences over time between conditions. Different letters indicate significant (p < 0.05) difference between time points for both groups.

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