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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05989815

Effect of Whole-body Photobiomodulation on Muscular Performance Enhancement.

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Sports Performance Injury Prevention Muscle Damage Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Desportivo Brasil Football Club

Porto Feliz, São Paulo, 18546-412, Brazil

About this study

Participants will be allocated into 3 balanced randomized groups, as follows: 1) PBMT post muscle damage protocol (PBMT-post); 2) PBMT pre (PBMT-pre) and 3) PBMT placebo (PBMT-sham). All groups will be submitted to a) anamnesis; b) measurement of blood levels of creatine phosphokinase (CK); c) delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS); d) muscle performance tests (Squat Jump test (SJ) and Counter Movement Jump (CMJ)); e) dynamometry of the knee extensor muscles. Whole body PBMT will be applied according to the groups, during 10 min (sham or effective), with an effective dose of 48.97 J/cm2 and irradiance of 81.62 mW/cm2. Muscle damage protocol will consist of 8 exercises for lower limb muscles, with 3 sets of 10 repetitions each, 1 minute of rest between sets, and 2 minutes of rest between exercises. Next, participants will be evaluated for levels of CK, DOMS and muscle performance (SJ, CMJ, dynamometry) at 24, 48 and 72 hours after muscle damage protocol. Data will be analyzed and compared between groups with a significance level of 5%.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 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.

Exclusion criteria

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

Treatment and study plan

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).

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Measurement of Blood Levels of Creatine Phosphokinase (CK)

    Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Squat Jump (SJ) Height

    Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, 72h

    Vertical jump height (cm) measured by the Squat Jump (SJ) test. Mean of four time points: Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h after the protocol. Higher values indicate better performance.

  2. Muscle Performance Tests - Dynamometry

    Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h

    Peak isometric force (kgf) of knee extensors, measured with handheld dynamometry.

    Mean of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h after exercise. Higher values indicate better performance.

  3. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

    Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h

    DOMS intensity assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; 0-10), where 0 = no soreness and 10 = worst possible soreness during knee extension. Higher scores indicate greater soreness. Mean of Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h post-protocol.

  4. Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height

    Time frame: Average of Baseline, 24h, 48h, 72h

    Vertical jump height (cm) measured by the Countermovement Jump (CMJ) test. Mean of four time points: Baseline, 24h, 48h, and 72h after the protocol. Higher values indicate better performance.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos

Other

Registry information

Acronym: WBPME

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Aug 14, 2023
Registry last updated
Nov 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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