NCT07477678

Brief Summary

This study investigates whether near-infrared light therapy can acutely improve ankle dorsiflexion mobility and hamstring flexibility, two factors associated with sports injury risk. Healthy adult students will complete three randomized conditions: a control session, a 10-minute cycling warm-up, and a 10-minute exposure to a red and near-infrared LED panel (MITO LIGHT®). Mobility and flexibility will be assessed before and after each condition using the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and the Active Knee Extension Test (AKET). The study aims to determine whether photobiomodulation may serve as a potential strategy to reduce musculoskeletal injury risk.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
40

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2026

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 13, 2026

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 17, 2026

Completed
6 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 23, 2026

Completed
21 days until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 13, 2026

Completed
7 days until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 20, 2026

Completed
Last Updated

March 19, 2026

Status Verified

March 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

21 days

First QC Date

March 13, 2026

Last Update Submit

March 17, 2026

Conditions

Ankle Dorsiflexion

Keywords

Red light therapyPhotobiomodulationAnkle dorsiflexionHamstring flexibilitySports injury preventionMito Light

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion

    Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion will be assessed using the weight-bearing lunge test (knee-to-wall test). The distance from the hallux to the wall (cm) will be measured with the knee touching the wall and the heel on the floor. Higher values indicate greater dorsiflexion mobility

    Immediately before and immediately after each condition (control, cycling warm-up, and near-infrared photobiomodulation)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Hamstring flexibility

    Immediately before and immediately after each condition (control, cycling warm-up, and near-infrared photobiomodulation)

Study Arms (3)

Control

NO INTERVENTION

10 minutes lying-down rest before assessments

Cycling Warm-up

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

10 minutes cycling warm-up before assessments

Other: Cycling Warm-up

Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation

EXPERIMENTAL

10 minutes Near-Infrared exposure before assessments

Device: Near-infrared photobiomodulation

Interventions

Near-infrared photobiomodulationDEVICE

Exposure to a near-infrared LED panel emitting wavelengths range of 800-860 nm for 10 minutes at a distance of 15 cm and 100% intensity. Mobility and flexibility tests (KWT and AKET) are performed immediately before and after the exposure.

Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation
Cycling Warm-upOTHER

10 minutes cycling warm-up on a stationary cycle ergometer at 55-75% of maximum heart rate, followed by mobility and flexibility assessments.

Cycling Warm-up

Eligibility Criteria

Sexall(Gender-based eligibility)
Gender Eligibility DetailsPrefer not to respond
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Active and healthy university students
  • No current pain or injury in the lower limbs
  • Ability to perform the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and Active Knee Extension Test (AKET)
  • Availability to attend all three sessions with at least 72 hours between assessments
  • Signed informed consent

You may not qualify if:

  • Use of photosensitizing medication currently or within the past 3 weeks (as collected in the medical questionnaire)
  • Recent musculoskeletal injury of the lower limbs or any sports-related injury with relevant downtime
  • Presence of pain, joint limitation, or any medical condition preventing safe performance of KWT or AKET

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Human Movement Laboratory, Escola Superior de Saúde da Universidade de Aveiro (ESSUA)

Aveiro, Aveiro District, 3810-193, Portugal

Location

Related Publications (4)

  • Shamsi, M., Mirzaei, M., & Khabiri, S. S. (2019). Universal goniometer and electro-goniometer intra-examiner reliability in measuring the knee range of motion during active knee extension test in patients with chronic low back pain with short hamstring muscle. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 11(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-019-0116-x

    BACKGROUND

  • Olivencia, O., Godinez, G. M., Dages, J., Duda, C., Kaplan, K., Kolber, M. J., Kaplan, & Kolber. (2020). THE RELIABILITY AND MINIMAL DETECTABLE CHANGE OF THE ELY AND ACTIVE KNEE EXTENSION TESTS. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 15(5), 776-782. https://doi.org/10.26603/ijspt20200776

    BACKGROUND

  • Warneke, K., Meder, J., Plöschberger, G., Oraže, M., Zechner, M., Jochum, D., Siegel, S. D., & Konrad, A. (2025). Can measurement errors explain variance in the relationship between muscle- and tendon stiffness and range of motion?-a blinded reliability and objectivity study. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 125(9), 2415-2430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-025-05814-1

    BACKGROUND

  • Konor, M. M., Morton, S., Eckerson, J. M., & Grindstaff, T. L. (2012). Reliability of three measures of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 7(3), 279-287

    BACKGROUND

Study Officials

  • Cláudio da Silva Ferreira, Licenciate

    University of Aveiro

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Cláudio da Silva Ferreira, MSc Student

CONTACT

+351 913880653claudioferreira90@ua.pt

Mário Alexandre Gonçalves Lopes, PhD

CONTACT

mariolopes77@ua.pt

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Model Details: Participants complete three conditions (control, cycling warm-up, and near-infrared photobiomodulation) in randomized order.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Physical Therapist

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 13, 2026

First Posted

March 17, 2026

Study Start

March 23, 2026

Primary Completion

April 13, 2026

Study Completion

April 20, 2026

Last Updated

March 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

All collected data will be anonymized for statistical analysis and stored securely with restricted access. Therefore, the dataset will be made available upon reasonable request.

Locations

PT(1)