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Comparison between cryotherapy and photobiomodulation in muscle recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and cryotherapy (CRT) on muscle recovery outcomes. These searches were performed in PubMed, PEDro, CENTRAL, and VHL (which includes the Lilacs, Medline, and SciELO database) from inception to June 2021. We included randomized clinical trials involved healthy human volunteers (> 18 years) underwent an intervention of PBMT and CRT, when used in both isolated form post-exercise. Standardized mean differences (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval were calculated and pooled in a meta-analysis for synthesis. The risk of bias and quality of evidence were assessed through Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and GRADE system. Four articles (66 participants) with a high to low risk of bias were included. The certainty of evidence was classified as moderate to very low. PBMT was estimated to improve the muscle strength (SMD = 1.73, CI 95% 1.33 to 2.13, I2 = 27%, p < 0.00001), reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (MD: − 25.69%, CI 95% − 34.42 to − 16.97, I2 = 89%, p < 0.00001), and lower the concentration of biomarkers of muscle damage (SMD =  − 1.48, CI 95% − 1.93 to − 1.03, I2 = 76%, p < 0,00,001) when compared with CRT. There was no difference in oxidative stress and inflammatory levels. Based on our findings, the use of PBMT in muscle recovery after high-intensity exercise appears to be beneficial, provides a clinically important effect, and seems to be the best option when compared to CRT.

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Funding

Professor Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior received a research grant from the Brazilian Council of Science and Technology Development (CNPq) (grant #310281/2017–2). Multi Radiance Medical and CNPq have no role in study design; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the report; and the decision to submit the report for publication, including whether they will have ultimate authority over any of these activities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiotherapy’s Clinic, University Center CNEC of Bento Gonçalves (UNICNEC), R. Arlindo Franklin Barbosa, 460, Bento Gonçalves, RS, 95700-000, Brazil

    João Vitor Ferlito & Thiago De Marchi

  2. Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology, Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Laboratory, University of Caxias Do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil

    João Vitor Ferlito & Marcos Vinicius Ferlito

  3. Laboratory of Phototherapy and Innovative Technologies in Health (LaPIT), Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior & Thiago De Marchi

  4. Physiotherapy Research Group, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior & Shaiane Silva Tomazoni

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  1. João Vitor Ferlito
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  2. Marcos Vinicius Ferlito
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  3. Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior
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  4. Shaiane Silva Tomazoni
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  5. Thiago De Marchi
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Contributions

JVF carried out the study, sorted the data, performed the analysis, and drafted the manuscript. MVF carried out the study, sorted the data, and drafted the manuscript. ECPL reviewed the data and helped draft the manuscript. SST helped with analysis of the certainty of evidence and drafting of the manuscript. TDM performed the data sorting and analysis and helped draft the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree with the order of presentation of the authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thiago De Marchi.

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Competing interests

Professor Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior receives research support from the Multi Radiance Medical (Solon, OH, USA), a laser device manufacturer. Shaiane Silva Tomazoni has a personal relationship with Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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PROSPERO registry: CRD42020186553 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=186553)

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Ferlito, J.V., Ferlito, M.V., Leal-Junior, E.C.P. et al. Comparison between cryotherapy and photobiomodulation in muscle recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci 37, 1375–1388 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-021-03442-7

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