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LED therapy or cryotherapy between exercise intervals in Wistar rats: anti-inflammatory and ergogenic effects

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to test, between two bouts of exercise, the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) therapy and cryotherapy regarding muscle damage, inflammation, and performance. Male Wistar rats were allocated in four groups: control, passive recovery (PR), cryotherapy (Cryo), and LED therapy. The animals were submitted to 45 min of swimming exercise followed by 25 min of recovery and then a second bout of either 45 min of exercise (muscle damage analysis) or time to exhaustion (performance). During the rest intervals, the rats were kept in passive rest (PR), submitted to cold water immersion (10 min, 10 °C) or LED therapy (940 nm, 4 J/cm2) of the gastrocnemius muscle. Blood samples were collected to analyze creatine kinase activity (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), and leukocyte counts. The soleus muscles were evaluated histologically. Time to exhaustion was recorded during the second bout of exercise. After a second bout of 45 min, the results demonstrated leukocytosis in the PR and Cryo groups. Neutrophil counts were increased in all test groups. CK levels were increased in the Cryo group. CRP was increased in PR animals. The PR group presented a high frequency of necrosis, but the LED group had fewer necrotic areas. Edema formation was prevented, and fewer areas of inflammatory cells were observed in the LED group. The time to exhaustion was greater in both the LED and Cryo groups, without differences in CK levels. CRP was decreased in LED animals. We conclude that LED therapy and cryotherapy can improve performance, although LED therapy is more efficient in preventing muscle damage and local and systemic inflammation.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Total Vet–Londrina and Virbac do Brasil for the donation of anesthetic drugs. This study was supported, in part, by a grant from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior to Vanessa Batista da Costa Santos and Vinícius Flávio Milanez.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

    Vanessa Batista da Costa Santos, Vinícius Flávio Milanez & Fábio Yuzo Nakamura

  2. Department of Histology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid PR 445 Km 380, 86051-990, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

    Solange de Paula Ramos & Julio Cesar Molina Corrêa

  3. Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

    Rubens Igor de Andrade Alves

  4. Department of Physics, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

    Ivan Frederico Lupiano Dias

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  1. Vanessa Batista da Costa Santos
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Correspondence to Solange de Paula Ramos.

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da Costa Santos, V.B., de Paula Ramos, S., Milanez, V.F. et al. LED therapy or cryotherapy between exercise intervals in Wistar rats: anti-inflammatory and ergogenic effects. Lasers Med Sci 29, 599–605 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-013-1371-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-013-1371-9

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