Photobiomodulation Therapy in a Field Test With High-level Rugby Players

NCT02588768 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 12

Last updated 2016-02-04

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background/Aim: While growing evidence supports the use of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for performance and recovery enhancement, there have only been laboratory-controlled studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of PBMT in performance and recovery of high-level rugby players during an anaerobic field test.

Methods: It is a randomized, crossover, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Twelve male high-level rugby athletes were recruited in this study. No intervention was performed before the Bangsbo Sprint Test (BST) at familiarization phase (week 1). At weeks 2 and 3, pre-exercise PBMT or placebo were randomly applied to each athlete. PBMT/placebo irradiation was performed at 17 sites of each lower limb, employing a cluster with 12 diodes (4 laser diodes of 905nm, 4 LED diodes of 875nm, and 4 LED diodes of 640nm, 30J per site - manufactured by Multi Radiance Medical™). Average time of sprints, best time of sprints, and fatigue index were obtained from BST. Blood lactate levels were assessed at baseline, and at 3, 10, 30 and 60 minutes after BST. Athletes' perceived fatigue was also assessed through a questionnaire.

Conditions

  • High-level Rugby Athletes
  • Performance
  • Recovery

Interventions

DEVICE

Photobiomodulation therapy (Phototherapy)

PBMT was applied employing MR4 Laser Therapy Systems manufactured by Multi Radiance Medical, Solon - OH, USA. The cluster emitter contains 12 diodes with four super-pulsed laser diodes (905 nm, 0.3125 mW average power, and 12.5 W peak power for each diode), four red LED diodes (640 nm, 15 mW average power for each diode), and four infrared LEDs diodes (875 nm, 17.5 mW average power for each diode). It was applied in direct contact with the skin to 9 sites on extensor muscles of the knee, 6 sites on knee flexors of the knee, and 2 sites on the calf of both lower limbs. To ensure blinding, the device emitted the same sounds and regardless of the programmed mode (active or placebo).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Multi Radiance Medical

    collaborator INDUSTRY
  • São José Rugby Club

    collaborator OTHER
  • University of Nove de Julho

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Ernesto Cesar P Leal-Junior, PhD, PT · University of Nove de Julho

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
35 Years
Sex
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-02-28
Primary Completion
2015-11-30
Completion
2016-01-31

Countries

  • Brazil

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02588768 on ClinicalTrials.gov