Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

When is the best moment to apply photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) when associated to a treadmill endurance-training program? A randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Lasers in Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) employing low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and/or light emitting diode therapy (LEDT) has emerged as an electrophysical intervention that could be associated with aerobic training to enhance beneficial effects of aerobic exercise. However, the best moment to perform irradiation with PBMT in aerobic training has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of PBMT applied before and/or after each training session and to evaluate outcomes of the endurance-training program associated with PBMT. Seventy-seven healthy volunteers completed the treadmill-training protocol performed for 12 weeks, with 3 sessions per week. PBMT was performed before and/or after each training session (17 sites on each lower limb, using a cluster of 12 diodes: 4 × 905 nm super-pulsed laser diodes, 4 × 875 nm infrared LEDs, and 4 × 640 nm red LEDs, dose of 30 J per site). Volunteers were randomized in four groups according to the treatment they would receive before and after each training session: PBMT before + PBMT after, PBMT before + placebo after, placebo before + PBMT after, and placebo before + placebo after. Assessments were performed before the start of the protocol and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of training. Primary outcome was time until exhaustion; secondary outcome measures were oxygen uptake and body fat. PBMT applied before and after aerobic exercise training sessions (PBMT before + PBMT after group) significantly increased (p < 0.05) the percentage of change of time until exhaustion and oxygen uptake compared to the group treated with placebo before and after aerobic exercise training sessions (placebo before + placebo after group) at 4th, 8th, and 12th week. PBMT applied before and after aerobic exercise training sessions (PBMT before + PBMT after group) also significantly improved (p < 0.05) the percentage of change of body fat compared to the group treated with placebo before and after aerobic exercise training sessions (placebo before + placebo after group) at 8th and 12th week. PBMT applied before and after sessions of aerobic training during 12 weeks can increase the time-to-exhaustion and oxygen uptake and also decrease the body fat in healthy volunteers when compared to placebo irradiation before and after exercise sessions. Our outcomes show that PBMT applied before and after endurance-training exercise sessions lead to improvement of endurance three times faster than exercise only.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Warburton DE, Nicol CW, Bredin SS (2006) Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence. CMAJ 174:801–809

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Warburton DE, Katzmarzyk PT, Rhodes RE, Shephard RJ (2007) Evidence-informed physical activity guidelines for Canadian adults. Can J Public Health 98:S16–S68

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Goodman JM, Thomas SG, Burr J (2011) Evidence-based risk assessment and recommendations for exercise testing and physical activity clearance in apparently healthy individuals. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 36:S14–S32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Chou CH, Hwang CL, Wu YT (2012) Effect of exercise on physical function, daily living activities, and quality of life in the frail older adults: a meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 93:237–244

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Jacobson BH, Smith D, Fronterhouse J, Kline C, Boolani A (2012) Assessment of the benefit of powered exercises for muscular endurance and functional capacity in elderly participants. J Phys Act Health 9:1030–1035

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. de Vries NM, van Ravensberg CD, Hobbelen JS, Olde Rikkert MG, Staal JB, Nijhuis-van der Sanden MW (2012) Effects of physical exercise therapy on mobility, physical functioning, physical activity and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults with impaired mobility, physical disability and/or multi-morbidity: a meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev 11:136–149

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. MacKenzie-Shalders KL, Byrne NM, Slater GJ, King NA (2015) The effect of a whey protein supplement dose on satiety and food intake in resistance training athletes. Appetite 92:178–184

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Higgins S, Straight CR, Lewis RD (2016) The effects of preexercise caffeinated coffee ingestion on endurance performance: an evidence-based review. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 26:221–239

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lanhers C, Pereira B, Naughton G, Trousselard M, Lesage FX, Dutheil F (2015) Creatine supplementation and lower limb strength performance: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Sports Med 45:1285–1294

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. De Brandt J, Spruit MA, Derave W, Hansen D, Vanfleteren LE, Burtin C (2016) Changes in structural and metabolic muscle characteristics following exercise-based interventions in patients with COPD: a systematic review. Expert Rev Respir Med 10:521–545

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Leal Junior EC, Lopes-Martins RA, Vanin AA, Baroni BM, Grosselli D, De Marchi T, Iversen VV, Bjordal JM (2009) Effect of 830 nm low-level laser therapy in exercise-induced skeletal muscle fatigue in humans. Lasers Med Sci 24:425–431

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Leal Junior EC, Lopes-Martins RA, Baroni BM, De Marchi T, Taufer D, Manfro DS, Rech M, Danna V, Grosselli D, Generosi RA, Marcos RL, Ramos L, Bjordal JM (2009) Effect of 830 nm low-level laser therapy applied before high-intensity exercises on skeletal muscle recovery in athletes. Lasers Med Sci 24:857–863

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Antonialli FC, De Marchi T, Tomazoni SS, Vanin AA, dos Santos GV, de Paiva PR, Pinto HD, Miranda EF, de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho P, Leal-Junior EC (2014) Phototherapy in skeletal muscle performance and recovery after exercise: effect of combination of super-pulsed laser and light-emitting diodes. Lasers Med Sci 29:1967–1976

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Miranda EF, de Oliveira LV, Antonialli FC, Vanin AA, de Carvalho PT, Leal-Junior EC (2015) Phototherapy with combination of super-pulsed laser and light-emitting diodes is beneficial in improvement of muscular performance (strength and muscular endurance), dyspnea, and fatigue sensation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lasers Med Sci 30:437–443

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Miranda EF, Vanin AA, Tomazoni SS, Grandinetti Vdos S, de Paiva PR, Machado Cdos S, Monteiro KK, Casalechi HL, de Tarso P, de Carvalho C, Leal-Junior EC (2016) Using pre-exercise photobiomodulation therapy combining super-pulsed lasers and light-emitting diodes to improve performance in progressive cardiopulmonary exercise tests. J Athl Train 51:129–135

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Da Silva Alves MA, Pinfildi CE, Neto LN, Lourenço RP, de Azevedo PH, Dourado VZ (2014) Acute effects of low-level laser therapy on physiologic and electromyographic responses to the cardiopulmonary exercise testing in healthy untrained adults. Lasers Med Sci 29:1945–1951

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Vieira WH, Ferraresi C, Perez SE, Baldissera V, Parizotto NA (2012) Effects of low-level laser therapy (808 nm) on isokinetic muscle performance of young women submitted to endurance training: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci 27:497–504

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. De Marchi T, Leal Junior EC, Bortoli C, Tomazoni SS, Lopes-Martins RA, Salvador M (2012) Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in human progressive-intensity running: effects on exercise performance, skeletal muscle status, and oxidative stress. Lasers Med Sci 27:231–236

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Paolillo FR, Corazza AV, Paolillo AR, Borghi-Silva A, Arena R, Kurachi C, Bagnato VS (2014) Phototherapy during treadmill training improves quadriceps performance in postmenopausal women. Climacteric 17:285–293

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Paolillo FR, Milan JC, Aniceto IV, Barreto SG, Rebelatto JR, Borghi-Silva A, Parizotto NA, Kurachi C, Bagnato VS (2011) Effects of infrared-LED illumination applied during high-intensity treadmill training in postmenopausal women. Photomed Laser Surg 29:639–645

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Paolillo FR, Corazza AV, Borghi-Silva A, Parizotto NA, Kurachi C, Bagnato VS (2013) Infrared LED irradiation applied during high-intensity treadmill training improves maximal exercise tolerance in postmenopausal women: a 6-month longitudinal study. Lasers Med Sci 28:415–422

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. American College of Sports Medicine, Chodzko-Zajko WJ, Proctor DN, Fiatarone Singh MA, Minson CT, Nigg CR, Salem GJ, Skinner JS (2009) American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41:1510–1530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Song M, Carroll DD, Fulton JE (2013) Meeting the 2008 physical activity guidelines for Americans among U.S. youth. Am J Prev Med 44:216–222

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Grandinétti Vdos S, Miranda EF, Johnson DS, de Paiva PR, Tomazoni SS, Vanin AA, Albuquerque-Pontes GM, Frigo L, Marcos RL, de Carvalho PT, Leal-Junior EC (2015) The thermal impact of phototherapy with concurrent super-pulsed lasers and red and infrared LEDs on human skin. Lasers Med Sci 30:1575–1581

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Powers SK, Howley ET (2015) Exercise physiology: theory and application to fitness and performance, 9th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  26. Marfell-Jones M, Olds T, Stewart A, Carter L (2006) International standards for anthropometric assessment. ISAK, Potchefstroom

    Google Scholar 

  27. Borghi-Silva A, Arena R, Castello V, Simões RP, Martins LE, Catai AM, Costa D (2009) Aerobic exercise training improves autonomic nervous control in patients with COPD. Respir Med 103:1503–1510

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Pinto HD, Vanin AA, Miranda EF, Tomazoni SS, Johnson DS, Albuquerque-Pontes GM, Aleixo IO Jr, Grandinetti VD, Casalechi HL, de Carvalho PT, Leal-Junior EC (2016) Photobiomodulation therapy improves performance and accelerates recovery of high-level rugby players in field test: a randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. J Strength Cond Res 30:3329–3338

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. de Paiva PR, Tomazoni SS, Johnson DS, Vanin AA, Albuquerque-Pontes GM, Machado CD, Casalechi HL, de Carvalho PT, Leal-Junior EC (2016) Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and/or cryotherapy in skeletal muscle restitution, what is better? A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci 31:1925–1933

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Duarte FO, Sene-Fiorese M, de Aquino Junior AE, da Silveira Campos RM, Masquio DC, Tock L, Garcia de Oliveira Duarte AC, Dâmaso AR, Bagnato VS, Parizotto NA (2015) Can low-level laser therapy (LLLT) associated with an aerobic plus resistance training change the cardiometabolic risk in obese women? A placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Photochem Photobiol B 153:103–110

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Hayworth CR, Rojas JC, Padilla E, Holmes GM, Sheridan EC, Gonzalez-Lima F (2010) In vivo low-level light therapy increases cytochrome oxidase in skeletal muscle. Photochem Photobiol 86:673–680

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Albuquerque-Pontes GM, Vieira RP, Tomazoni SS, Caires CO, Nemeth V, Vanin AA, Santos LA, Pinto HD, Marcos RL, Bjordal JM, de Carvalho PT, Leal-Junior EC (2015) Effect of pre-irradiation with different doses, wavelengths, and application intervals of low-level laser therapy on cytochrome c oxidase activity in intact skeletal muscle of rats. Lasers Med Sci 30:59–66

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. De Marchi T, Schmitt VM, Danúbia da Silva Fabro C, da Silva LL, Sene J, Tairova O, Salvador M (2017) Phototherapy for improvement of performance and exercise recovery: comparison of 3 commercially available devices. J Athl Train 52:429–438

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Leal-Junior EC, Johnson DS, Saltmarche A, Demchak T (2014) Adjunctive use of combination of super-pulsed laser and light-emitting diodes phototherapy on nonspecific knee pain: double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial. Lasers Med Sci 29:1839–1847

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Santos LA, Marcos RL, Tomazoni SS, Vanin AA, Antonialli FC, Grandinetti Vdos S, Albuquerque-Pontes GM, de Paiva PR, Lopes-Martins RÁ, de Carvalho PT, Bjordal JM, Leal-Junior EC (2014) Effects of pre-irradiation of low-level laser therapy with different doses and wavelengths in skeletal muscle performance, fatigue, and skeletal muscle damage induced by tetanic contractions in rats. Lasers Med Sci 29:1617–1626

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Vanin AA, Miranda EF, Machado CS, de Paiva PR, Albuquerque-Pontes GM, Casalechi HL, de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho P, Leal-Junior EC (2016) What is the best moment to apply phototherapy when associated to a strength training program? A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial: phototherapy in association to strength training. Lasers Med Sci 31:1555–1564

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Aver Vanin A, De Marchi T, Tomazoni SS, Tairova O, Leão Casalechi H, de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho P, Bjordal JM, Leal-Junior EC (2016) Pre-exercise infrared low-level laser therapy (810 nm) in skeletal muscle performance and postexercise recovery in humans, what is the optimal dose? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Photomed Laser Surg 34:473–482

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Machado AF, Micheletti JK, Vanderlei FM, Nakamura FY, Leal-Junior ECP, Netto Junior J, Pastre CM (2017) Effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and light-emitting diodes (LEDT) applied during combined training on performance and post-exercise recovery: protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Braz J Phys Ther 21:296–304

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Leal-Junior EC, Vanin AA, Miranda EF, de Carvalho PT, Dal Corso S, Bjordal JM (2015) Effect of phototherapy (low-level laser therapy and light-emitting diode therapy) on exercise performance and markers of exercise recovery: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci 30:925–939

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Leal-Junior EC (2015) Photobiomodulation therapy in skeletal muscle: from exercise performance to muscular dystrophies. Photomed Laser Surg 33:53–54

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Vanin AA, Verhagen E, Barboza SD, Costa LOP, Leal-Junior ECP (2017) Photobiomodulation therapy for the improvement of muscular performance and reduction of muscular fatigue associated with exercise in healthy people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-017-2368-6

  42. de Oliveira AR, Vanin AA, Tomazoni SS, Miranda EF, Albuquerque-Pontes GM, De Marchi T, Dos Santos Grandinetti V, de Paiva PRV, Imperatori TBG, de Carvalho PTC, Bjordal JM, Leal-Junior ECP (2017) Pre-exercise infrared photobiomodulation therapy (810 nm) in skeletal muscle performance and postexercise recovery in humans: what is the optimal power output? Photomed Laser Surg 35:595–603

Download references

Funding

This study was supported by research grants 2010/52404-0 from São Paulo Research Foundation—FAPESP (Professor Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior), 472062/2013-1 and 307717/2014-3 from Brazilian Council of Science and Technology Development—CNPq (Professor Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior), and 2014/01279-1 from São Paulo Research Foundation—FAPESP for Ph.D. scholarship (Larissa Aline Santos).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Phototherapy in Sports and Exercise, Nove de Julho University, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Eduardo Foschini Miranda, Paulo Roberto Vicente de Paiva, Henrique Dantas Pinto & Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior

  2. Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Shaiane Silva Tomazoni

  3. Post-Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Nove de Julho University, Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Sao Paulo, SP, 01504-001, Brazil

    Paulo Roberto Vicente de Paiva, Henrique Dantas Pinto, Denis Smith, Larissa Aline Santos, Paulo de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho & Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior

Authors
  1. Eduardo Foschini Miranda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shaiane Silva Tomazoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paulo Roberto Vicente de Paiva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Henrique Dantas Pinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Denis Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Larissa Aline Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Paulo de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

Professor Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior received research support from Multi Radiance Medical (Solon, OH, USA), a laser device manufacturer. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical aspects

All experimental procedures were submitted and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Nove de Julho University (process number 553.831) and registered at Clinical Trials.gov (NCT02874976).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miranda, E.F., Tomazoni, S.S., de Paiva, P.R.V. et al. When is the best moment to apply photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) when associated to a treadmill endurance-training program? A randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci 33, 719–727 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-017-2396-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-017-2396-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation