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Effects of photobiomodulation therapy and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on skeletal muscle injury induced by contusion in rats—part 1: morphological and functional aspects

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Abstract

Musculoskeletal injuries are very frequent and are responsible for causing pain and impairment of muscle function, as well as significant functional limitations. In the acute phase, the most prescribed treatment is with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), despite their questionable effectiveness. However, the use of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in musculoskeletal disorders has been increasing in the last few years, and this therapy appears to be an interesting alternative to the traditional drugs. The objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare the effects of PBMT, with different application doses, and topical NSAIDs, under morphological and functional parameters, during an acute inflammatory process triggered by a controlled model of musculoskeletal injury induced via contusion in rats. Muscle injury was induced by means of a single trauma to the animals’ anterior tibialis muscle. After 1 h, the rats were treated with PBMT (830 nm; continuous mode, with a power output of 100 mW; 3.57 W/cm2; 1 J–35.7 J/cm2, 3 J–107.1 J/cm2, and 9 J–321.4 J/cm2; 10, 30, and 90 s) or diclofenac sodium for topical use (1 g). Morphological analysis (histology) and functional analysis (muscle work) were performed, 6, 12, and 24 h after induction of the injury. PBMT, with all doses tested, improved morphological changes caused by trauma; however, the 9 J (321.4 J/cm2) dose was the most effective in organizing muscle fibers and cell nuclei. On the other hand, the use of diclofenac sodium produced only a slight improvement in morphological changes. Moreover, we observed a statistically significant increase of muscle work in the PBMT 3 J (107.1 J/cm2) group in relation to the injury group and the diclofenac group (p < 0.05). The results of the present study indicate that PBMT, with a dose of 3 J (107.1 J/cm2), is more effective than the other doses of PBMT tested and NSAIDs for topical use as a means to improve morphological and functional alterations due to muscle injury from contusion.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thanks FAPESP for research grants to Lúcio Frigo (grant number 2012/06832-5).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID), Rua Cesário Galeno, 448/475, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil

    Shaiane Silva Tomazoni

  2. Biological Sciences and Health Center, Cruzeiro do Sul University (UNICSUL), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Lúcio Frigo

  3. Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Tereza Cristina dos Reis Ferreira, Heliodora Leão Casalechi & Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior

  4. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Tereza Cristina dos Reis Ferreira, Paulo de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho & Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior

  5. Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Simone Teixeira & Marcelo Nicolas Muscara

  6. Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Patrícia de Almeida, Rodrigo Labat Marcos, Andrey Jorge Serra & Paulo de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho

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  1. Shaiane Silva Tomazoni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaiane Silva Tomazoni.

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Conflict of interest

Professor Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior receives research support from Multi Radiance Medical (Solon, OH, USA), a laser device manufacturer. Multi Radiance Medical had no role in the planning of this study, and the laser device used was not theirs. They had no influence on study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Professor Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior receives research support from Multi Radiance Medical (Solon, OH, USA), a laser device manufacturer. Multi Radiance Medical had no role in the planning of this study, and the laser device used was not theirs. They had no influence on study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Role of funding source

The authors would like to thank FAPESP for research grants to Lúcio Frigo (grant number 2012/06832-5). The funding agency had no role in the planning of this study, they had no influence on study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Ethical approval

All experimental protocols were submitted and approved by the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee of the University of Nove de Julho (UNINOVE) (Protocol AN0010/2011).

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Does not apply since it is an animal experiment.

Ethical aspects

All experimental protocols were submitted and approved by the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee of the University of Nove de Julho (UNINOVE) (Protocol AN0010/2011).

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Tomazoni, S.S., Frigo, L., dos Reis Ferreira, T.C. et al. Effects of photobiomodulation therapy and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on skeletal muscle injury induced by contusion in rats—part 1: morphological and functional aspects. Lasers Med Sci 32, 2111–2120 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-017-2346-z

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