Photobiomodulation in human muscle tissue: an advantage in sports performance?

Cleber Ferraresi, Ying-Ying Huang, Michael R Hamblin, Cleber Ferraresi, Ying-Ying Huang, Michael R Hamblin

Abstract

Photobiomodulation (PBM) describes the use of red or near-infrared (NIR) light to stimulate, heal, and regenerate damaged tissue. Both preconditioning (light delivered to muscles before exercise) and PBM applied after exercise can increase sports performance in athletes. This review covers the effects of PBM on human muscle tissue in clinical trials in volunteers related to sports performance and in athletes. The parameters used were categorized into those with positive effects or no effects on muscle performance and recovery. Randomized controlled trials and case-control studies in both healthy trained and untrained participants, and elite athletes were retrieved from MEDLINE up to 2016. Performance metrics included fatigue, number of repetitions, torque, hypertrophy; measures of muscle damage and recovery such as creatine kinase and delayed onset muscle soreness. Searches retrieved 533 studies, of which 46 were included in the review (n = 1045 participants). Studies used single laser probes, cluster of laser diodes, LED clusters, mixed clusters (lasers and LEDs), and flexible LED arrays. Both red, NIR, and red/NIR mixtures were used. PBM can increase muscle mass gained after training, and decrease inflammation and oxidative stress in muscle biopsies. We raise the question of whether PBM should be permitted in athletic competition by international regulatory authorities.

Keywords: LEDT; LLLT; creatine kinase; delayed onset muscle soreness; fatigue; photobiomodulation.

© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the systematic review recommended by PRISMA [15]
Figure 2
Figure 2
A) Example of muscular pre-conditioning irradiating multiple sites or points on the biceps brachii. B) Exercise test on a Scott bench.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A) Muscular pre-conditioning irradiating multiple sites or points of the quadriceps femoris muscles in order to cover the whole muscle group. B) Exercise testing in an isokinetic dynamometer in conjunction with surface electromyography analysis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A) Muscular pre-conditioning irradiating multiple sites or points of the quadriceps femoris muscles in order to cover all muscle group. B) Cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill.
Figure 5
Figure 5
A) Exercise training program in a leg press. B) Photobiomodulation irradiating multiple sites or points of the quadriceps femoris muscles in order to cover all the muscle group applied after each training session.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Total energy (Joules - J) applied on biceps brachii that produced positive effects, no effects, and ambiguous effects (positive and no effects) on the following outcomes: fatigue resistance or number of repetitions, time of contraction and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in studies included in this review.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Total energy (Joules - J) applied on quadriceps femoris muscles that produced positive effects, no effects, and ambiguous effects (positive and no effects) on the following outcomes: fatigue resistance or number of repetitions, muscle force or work, and creatine kinase (CK) or a related marker of muscle damage in studies included in this review.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Total energy (Joules - J) applied on body muscles that produced positive effects or no effects on the following outcomes: oxygen uptake or ventilatory responses, time of running, and muscle damage (CK) in studies included in this review.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Total energy (Joules - J) applied on quadriceps femoris muscles during training programs that produced positive effects or ambiguous effects on the following outcomes: 1-RM, torque, fatigue resistance, hypertrophy and muscle work in studies included in this review.

Source: PubMed

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