Photobiomodulation Effects on Fatigue and Muscle Damage Induced by NMES
24 augusti 2026 uppdaterad av: Marco Aurélio Vaz, PhD, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Effects of Photobiomodulation on Fatigue and Muscle Damage Induced by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Healthy Individuals: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is widely used to improve muscle strength and mitigate atrophy.
However, its clinical efficacy is often limited by early neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage, and discomfort, which reduce patient tolerance and contraction time.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) has emerged as a potential therapy to enhance muscle performance and accelerate recovery by minimizing fatigue and damage.
Despite its potential, few studies have investigated the effects of PBM applied specifically before an NMES-evoked fatigue protocol.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aims to evaluate the acute effects of PBM on neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage, and functional outcomes in healthy young subjects.
Participants will receive either active PBM (cluster probe: 5 lasers 810nm/200mW; 4 LEDs 660nm/10mW; Total Energy: 249.6 J per limb) or sham treatment 5 minutes before a fatiguing NMES protocol (80 contractions at 20% MVIC, 80 Hz, 1ms pulse width) applied to the quadriceps muscle.
Assessments will be performed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 24h, 48h, and 72h post-intervention.
Primary outcomes include maximum and evoked isometric strength, mechanical work, and electrical muscle activity.
Secondary outcomes include muscle damage (ultrasound echo-intensity), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), functional performance (unilateral vertical jump), and clinical discomfort.
The study seeks to determine if PBM can effectively modulate NMES-induced fatigue and muscle damage, potentially optimizing its clinical application.
Studieöversikt
Status
Rekrytering
Betingelser
Intervention / Behandling
Studietyp
Interventionell
Inskrivning (Beräknad)
36
Fas
- Inte tillämpbar
Kontakter och platser
Det här avsnittet innehåller kontaktuppgifter för dem som genomför studien och information om var denna studie genomförs.
Studiekontakt
- Namn: Marco A Vaz, PhD
- Telefonnummer: +555133085853
- E-post: marco.vaz@ufrgs.br
Studieorter
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Rio Grande do Sul
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Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasilien, 90690200
- Rekrytering
- Laboratório de Pesquisa do Exercício
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Kontakt:
- Jeam M Geremia, PhD
- Telefonnummer: 5133085853
- E-post: jeam.geremia@ufrgs.br
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Huvudutredare:
- Marco A Vaz, PhD
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Underutredare:
- Gustavo N Petter, MSc
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Deltagandekriterier
Forskare letar efter personer som passar en viss beskrivning, så kallade behörighetskriterier. Några exempel på dessa kriterier är en persons allmänna hälsotillstånd eller tidigare behandlingar.
Urvalskriterier
Åldrar som är berättigade till studier
- Vuxen
Tar emot friska volontärer
Ja
Beskrivning
Inclusion Criteria:
- Healthy male and female volunteers.
- Age between 18 and 45 years.
- Practice physical activity regularly
- No history of musculoskeletal injuries in the lower limbs in the last 6 months
- Ability to tolerate NMES
Exclusion Criteria:
- Have sensory intolerable changes due to NMES
- Consumed coffee or another stimulant in the last 12 hours
- Have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2 (grade I obesity)
- Present any contraindication for the performance of maximum effort
- Abnormal increase in blood pressure after maximal exertion
Studieplan
Det här avsnittet ger detaljer om studieplanen, inklusive hur studien är utformad och vad studien mäter.
Hur är studien utformad?
Designdetaljer
- Primärt syfte: Behandling
- Tilldelning: Randomiserad
- Interventionsmodell: Parallellt uppdrag
- Maskning: Trippel
Vapen och interventioner
Deltagargrupp / Arm |
Intervention / Behandling |
|---|---|
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Experimentell: Photobiomodulation (PBM)
Participants in this arm will receive active photobiomodulation therapy.
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Application of PBMT using a cluster probe (Thor-DD2; 5 laser diodes: 810nm, 200mW; 4 LEDs: 660nm, 10mW).
The treatment involves 8 points on the quadriceps (2 on vastus medialis, 3 on vastus lateralis, and 3 on rectus femoris).
Each point is irradiated for 30 seconds in continuous mode with direct contact and slight pressure.
Total energy: 31.2
J per point and 249.6 J per limb.
Both therapist and participant will wear protective goggles.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (Myomed 932) applied to the quadriceps.
Parameters: 80 Hz frequency, 1 ms pulse width (biphasic rectangular pulse), 5s:10s ON:OFF ratio with 1s ramp-up/down.
The protocol lasts 20 minutes, totaling 80 evoked isometric contractions.
Current intensity is adjusted to generate an initial torque of 20% of the baseline Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC).
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Sham Comparator: Sham PBM
Participants in this arm will receive an inactive (placebo) photobiomodulation treatment.
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Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (Myomed 932) applied to the quadriceps.
Parameters: 80 Hz frequency, 1 ms pulse width (biphasic rectangular pulse), 5s:10s ON:OFF ratio with 1s ramp-up/down.
The protocol lasts 20 minutes, totaling 80 evoked isometric contractions.
Current intensity is adjusted to generate an initial torque of 20% of the baseline Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC).
The procedure is identical to the active PBMT (8 points, 30 seconds per point, same pressure and positioning), but the device will be turned off.
To ensure blinding, participants will wear protective goggles and a blindfold to prevent visual perception of the light.
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Vad mäter studien?
Primära resultatmått
Resultatmått |
Åtgärdsbeskrivning |
Tidsram |
|---|---|---|
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Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Largest knee extensor torque generated isometrically and voluntarily on an isokinetic dynamometer. Unit of Measure: Newton-meters (N.m) |
Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Evoked fatigue
Tidsram: Continuously during the 20-minute fatigue protocol.
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Fall in the evoked torque during the fatigue protocol.
Unit of Measure: Newton-meters (N.m)
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Continuously during the 20-minute fatigue protocol.
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Sekundära resultatmått
Resultatmått |
Åtgärdsbeskrivning |
Tidsram |
|---|---|---|
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Muscle Echo Intensity
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Quantitative analysis of muscle ultrasound images to assess changes in echo intensity, reflecting acute edema and changes in muscle quality. Analysis will be performed specifically on the Rectus Femoris (RF), Vastus Medialis (VM), and Vastus Lateralis (VL). Unit of Measure: Arbitrary Units (au) on a 0-255 grayscale |
Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Pressure Pain Threshold
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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The minimum pressure at which a subject perceives a stimulus as painful, measured via pressure algometry on the quadriceps muscle bellies to quantify delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Unit of Measure: Newtons (N)
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Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Quadriceps Muscle Thickness
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Ultrasound assessment of structural changes in the quadriceps muscle group, for the Rectus Femoris (RF), Vastus Medialis (VM), and Vastus Lateralis (VL). This variable evaluates acute morphological changes or edema-induced swelling following the NMES protocol. Unit of Measure: Millimeters (mm) |
Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Measure Description: Maximum jump height achieved during a vertical countermovement jump on a force platform to assess dynamic muscle power. Unit of Measure: Centimeters (cm) |
Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Lower Limb Joint Kinematics During Jump
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Measure Description: Sagittal plane kinematic analysis for the ankle, knee, hip, and trunk joints to evaluate movement strategies and joint range of motion during the countermovement jump. Unit of Measure: Degrees (°) |
Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Force-Time Curve Dynamics During Jump
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Analysis of the vertical ground reaction force-time curve during the propulsion phase of the countermovement jump.
The primary parameter will be the Vertical Impulse, calculated as the integral of force over time.
Unit of Measure: Newton-seconds (N.s)
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Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Muscle Activation
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Surface electromyography (sEMG) to assess muscle activation amplitude during MVIC.
Unit of Measure: Microvolts (uV)
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Baseline (pre-intervention) on Day 1; immediately after the fatigue protocol on Day 1; and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol (on Days 2, 3, and 4, respectively).
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Vastus Lateralis Fascicle Length
Tidsram: Continuously during the 20-minute fatigue protocol on Day 1.
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Measure Description: Assessment of real-time changes in the fascicle length of the Vastus Lateralis muscle during the fatigue protocol using continuous ultrasound imaging. Unit of Measure: Millimeters (mm) |
Continuously during the 20-minute fatigue protocol on Day 1.
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Andra resultatmått
Resultatmått |
Åtgärdsbeskrivning |
Tidsram |
|---|---|---|
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Vastus Lateralis Pennation Angle
Tidsram: Continuously during the 20-minute fatigue protocol on Day 1.
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Measure Description: Assessment of real-time changes in the pennation angle of the Vastus Lateralis muscle during the fatigue protocol using continuous ultrasound imaging. Unit of Measure: Degrees (°) |
Continuously during the 20-minute fatigue protocol on Day 1.
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Adipose Tissue Thickness
Tidsram: Baseline
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Measurement of the fat layer thickness overlying the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, and Vastus Lateralis using ultrasound imaging.
This measure is used to characterize the sample's morphology and will serve as a covariate to adjust the delivered PBM dose and NMES current penetration analysis.
Unit of Measure: Millimeters (mm)
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Baseline
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Samarbetspartners och utredare
Det är här du hittar personer och organisationer som är involverade i denna studie.
Samarbetspartners
Utredare
- Studiestol: Marco A Vaz, PhD, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
- Studierektor: Marco A Vaz, PhD, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
- Huvudutredare: Marco A Vaz, PhD, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Studieavstämningsdatum
Dessa datum spårar framstegen för inlämningar av studieposter och sammanfattande resultat till ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieposter och rapporterade resultat granskas av National Library of Medicine (NLM) för att säkerställa att de uppfyller specifika kvalitetskontrollstandarder innan de publiceras på den offentliga webbplatsen.
Studera stora datum
Studiestart (Faktisk)
1 juni 2026
Primärt slutförande (Beräknad)
30 augusti 2026
Avslutad studie (Beräknad)
30 september 2026
Studieregistreringsdatum
Först inskickad
27 april 2026
Först inskickad som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna
15 maj 2026
Första postat (Faktisk)
22 maj 2026
Uppdateringar av studier
Senaste uppdatering publicerad (Faktisk)
25 augusti 2026
Senaste inskickade uppdateringen som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna
24 augusti 2026
Senast verifierad
1 augusti 2026
Mer information
Termer relaterade till denna studie
Ytterligare relevanta MeSH-villkor
Andra studie-ID-nummer
- 5.309.992(1)
Plan för individuella deltagardata (IPD)
Planerar du att dela individuella deltagardata (IPD)?
NEJ
IPD-planbeskrivning
A final decision regarding the sharing of individual participant data has not yet been made.
The study team intends to evaluate this possibility following the primary data analysis, in accordance with institutional guidelines and ethical committee requirements.
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