Effect of Whole-body Photobiomodulation on Muscular Performance Enhancement.

NCT05989815 | Completed Results FDA Device

• 1 other identifier: 62842522.2.0000.5504
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Introduction: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is based on the emission of light ranging from red to near-infrared spectra by different devices based on diode lasers or light-emitting diodes. These devices emitting different wavelengths can increase mitochondrial activity and energy synthesis (ATP - adenosine triphosphate) that in turn can help to prevent muscle damage, decrease muscle fatigue and enhance muscle performance. Thus, PBMT can be a promising therapeutic resource in the sports field. Objectives: The aim of this study is to verify the effect of PBMT on the muscle performance and prevention of muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in professional soccer players submitted to a muscle damage protocol. Methodology: The present study is a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial following the CONSORT guidelines.

Conditions

Sports Performance; Injury Prevention; Muscle Damage; Musculoskeletal Pain

Keywords

phototherapy; laser therapy; muscle fatigue; muscle damage

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Measurement of Blood Levels of Creatine Phosphokinase (CK)

  Mean serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) concentration (U/L), calculated as the average of four time points: Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h post-exercise. Higher values indicate greater muscle damage.

  Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Squat Jump (SJ) Height

  Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, 72h

• Muscle Performance Tests - Dynamometry

  Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h

• Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

  Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h

• Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height

  Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, 72h

Study Arms (3)

PBMT post muscle damage protocol (PBMT-post)

EXPERIMENTAL

Group submitted to pre-exercise Sham (placebo) photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), and post-exercise active PBMT. PBMT will be administered using a whole-body irradiation system (Joovv Elite System, Joovv Inc.), consisting of 6 panels with 76 red LEDs (660 ± 10 nm) and 74 infrared LEDs (850 ± 10 nm), totaling 900 LEDs covering an area of 12,193 cm². Athletes will stand 20 cm in front of the device, wearing only swim shorts to expose their thigh muscles and other body areas to the light. The total irradiation time will be 20 minutes, with 10 minutes (600 seconds) of irradiation for the anterior region and another 10 minutes (600 seconds) for the posterior region. The active PBMT dose applied in each region (anterior or posterior) will be 48.97 J/cm², with an irradiance of 81.62 mW/cm².

Other: Muscle damage protocol training; Device: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT)

PBMT pre (PBMT-pre)

EXPERIMENTAL

Group submitted to pre-exercise active photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), and post-exercise Sham (placebo) PBMT. PBMT will be administered using a whole-body irradiation system (Joovv Elite System, Joovv Inc.), consisting of 6 panels with 76 red LEDs (660 ± 10 nm) and 74 infrared LEDs (850 ± 10 nm), totaling 900 LEDs covering an area of 12,193 cm². Athletes will stand 20 cm in front of the device, wearing only swim shorts to expose their thigh muscles and other body areas to the light. The total irradiation time will be 20 minutes, with 10 minutes (600 seconds) of irradiation for the anterior region and another 10 minutes (600 seconds) for the posterior region. The active PBMT dose applied in each region (anterior or posterior) will be 48.97 J/cm², with an irradiance of 81.62 mW/cm².

Other: Muscle damage protocol training; Device: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT)

PBMT placebo (PBMT-sham)

SHAM COMPARATOR

Group submitted to pre-exercise and post-exercise photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) Sham (placebo). PBMT will be administered using a whole-body irradiation system (Joovv Elite System, Joovv Inc.), consisting of 6 panels with 76 red LEDs (660 ± 10 nm) and 74 infrared LEDs (850 ± 10 nm), totaling 900 LEDs covering an area of 12,193 cm². Athletes will stand 20 cm in front of the device, wearing only swim shorts to expose their thigh muscles and other body areas to the light. The total irradiation time will be 20 minutes, with 10 minutes (600 seconds) of irradiation for the anterior region and another 10 minutes (600 seconds) for the posterior region. The Sham PBMT dose applied in each region (anterior or posterior) will be 0 J/cm², with an irradiance of 0 mW/cm².

Other: Muscle damage protocol training; Device: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT)

Interventions

Muscle damage protocol training OTHER

The adopted protocol of muscle damage will follow the recommendations from American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in 2009 for trained individuals. It consists of 8-12 repetitions above 70% of 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM) with 1 minute of rest between sets and 2 minutes between exercises. The protocol will be composed as follows: 3 sets of 10 repetitions for each exercise, with an emphasis on producing microlesions in the muscle tissue (muscle damage protocol).

PBMT placebo (PBMT-sham); PBMT post muscle damage protocol (PBMT-post); PBMT pre (PBMT-pre)

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) DEVICE

PBMT will be administered using a whole-body irradiation system (Joovv Elite System, Joovv Inc.), consisting of 6 panels with 76 red LEDs (660 ± 10 nm) and 74 infrared LEDs (850 ± 10 nm), totaling 900 LEDs covering an area of 12,193 cm². Athletes will stand 20 cm in front of the device, wearing only swim shorts to expose their thigh muscles and other body areas to the light. The total irradiation time will be 20 minutes, with 10 minutes (600 seconds) of irradiation for the anterior region and another 10 minutes (600 seconds) for the posterior region. The active PBMT dose applied in each region (anterior or posterior) will be 48.97 J/cm², with an irradiance of 81.62 milliwatt (mW)/cm². The PBMT Sham dose applied in each region (anterior or posterior) will be 0 J/cm², with an irradiance of 0 mW/cm².

PBMT placebo (PBMT-sham); PBMT post muscle damage protocol (PBMT-post); PBMT pre (PBMT-pre)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Male individuals aged between 18 and 35 years, professional soccer players who engage in training at least 5 times a week, will be selected.
• Data collection will be conducted at the Desportivo Brasil Football Club, located in Porto Feliz, São Paulo. The sample will consist of team members, with a total of 30 athletes established to compose the sample. All data collection will take place in the same location.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals with any impediment to physical activity or those presenting dysfunctions that may impair the neuromuscular system will be excluded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos: lead

Study Sites (1)

Desportivo Brasil Football Club

Porto Feliz, São Paulo, 18546-412, Brazil

Location

Related Publications (14)

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Pain

Interventions

Low-Level Light Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Laser Therapy; Therapeutics; Phototherapy

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Italo Amaral de Oliveira, Principal Investigator
• Organization: Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)

italoao@estudante.ufscar.br

+55 19 99719-0361

Study Officials

• Cleber Ferraresi, Phd

  Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 1, 2023
• First Posted: August 14, 2023
• Study Start: July 10, 2023
• Primary Completion: November 10, 2023
• Study Completion: December 20, 2023
• Last Updated: November 10, 2025
• Results First Posted: November 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BR (1)