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NCT Number: NCT06739148

The Enhancement Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Muscle Training with Combined NMES and BFR

Blood flow restriction training (BFR) with neuromuscular stimulation (NMES) is employed for individuals with limited mobility and joint issues. However, this approach is highly susceptible to muscle fatigue, despite its potential beneficial effects on muscle strength. Recently, there has been growing interest in using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to address muscle fatigue. LLLT, known for improving microcirculation and mitochondrial function, shows promise in alleviating enhanced muscle fatigue associated with combined BFR and NMES training. Despite these positive effects, there is limited knowledge about the short-term training impact of combined BFR and NMES with LLLT preconditioning. This project aims to investigate whether the photobiomodulation effects of LLLT could further enhance the training benefits of combined BFR and NMES. The study will employ an integrated analysis of decomposition surface EMG, EEG, and mechanomyogram to explore the behavior and neuromuscular mechanisms underlying the training benefits. If additional benefits are identified, LLLT pre-conditioning is recommended to enhance the use of combined BFR and NMES.

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Key information

Conditions

Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Laser Therapy, Low-Level Muscle Strength Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)

Age range

20 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

National Chen Kong University Hospital, Tainan

Tainan, Taiwan

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Ing-Shiou Hwang, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

88662353535 ext. 5932

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy adults aged 20-40, without a diagnosis of cardiovascular or neuromusculoskeletal diseases.
  • Normal vision range after visual correction.

Exclusion criteria

  • Exclude students who have a teacher-student relationship with the principal investigator to ensure the participants' autonomy.
  • History of brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, or other neuromuscular-related conditions.
  • Contraindications for laser therapy: pregnancy, malignant tumor tissues, bleeding areas, and photosensitive skin regions.
  • Presence of any contraindications for blood flow restriction training, such as a history of injury or strain in the non-dominant arm's biceps, deep vein thrombosis or venous occlusion in the non-dominant arm, acute unstable fractures in the non-dominant arm, acute regional infections in the non-dominant arm, severe peripheral arterial occlusive disease in the non-dominant arm, complete lymphatic obstruction in the non-dominant arm, and edema due to acute pulmonary edema or congestive heart failure in the non-dominant arm.

Treatment and study plan

Low Level Laser Therapy

Device

Low-level laser therapy can increase cellular energy production, making it useful as a pre-conditioning treatment to prevent muscle contraction fatigue or as a post-contraction therapy to accelerate fatigue recovery.

Blood Flow Restriction

Device

Its advantage is that during training, it can surpass the "overload principle," allowing for effective muscle cross-sectional area growth with relatively light weight training (20%-50% of 1RM or 20%-40% of MVC).

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Device

It is a strength training method that uses electrical currents to stimulate nerve and muscle activation, helping to maintain muscle mass, increase blood flow, and slow down or prevent muscle atrophy.

Primary outcomes

  1. Myoton

    Time frame: before training, 1week of training, 2 weeks of training, at the end of 3 weeks training

    Non-dominant hand extensor digitorum muscle belly parameters of static mechanical properties of muscles (Tone, Stiffness, Relaxation, Creep, etc.)

  2. Mechanomyogram

    Time frame: before training, 1week of training, 2 weeks of training, at the end of 3 weeks training

    Recording of extensor digitorum muscle microshock waves during contraction

  3. Multi-electrode surface EMG

    Time frame: before training, at the end of 3 weeks training

    Record muscle activity during contraction

  4. Dynamometer System

    Time frame: before training, 1week of training, 2 weeks of training, at the end of 3 weeks training

    Measurement to track the degree of force applied by a non-dominant hand.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Ing-Shiou Hwang, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+886 62353535 ext. 5024

Pei-Fen Li, Master

CONTACT

[email protected]

+886 62353535 ext. 5024

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Enhancement Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Muscle Training with Combined Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Blood Flow Restriction

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 18, 2024
Registry last updated
Dec 18, 2024

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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