Fototerapia na melhora do desempenho e na recuperação muscular: comparação com crioterapia e entre diferentes formas de emissão de luz

Abstract

Photobiomodulation (PBMT) can be used alone or as adjuvant in the treatment of various pathologies. Recent studies suggest that prophylactic use of low-power laser / light has ergogenic effects on athletic performance and post-activity recovery. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different light emissions, with the combination of different sources, and to evaluate the effect of PBMT and cryotherapy as forms of post-exercise muscle recovery of high intensity, as well as verify the effect of the PBMT applied before a real game situation. For this, 86 volunteers were included in three randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind studies. In the first, forty volunteers were randomly assigned to five groups: Placebo Group; Phototherapy, Cryotherapy, Cryotherapy-Phototherapy, Phototherapy-Cryotherapy. All subjects performed four sessions, 24-hour intervals, where they were submitted to isometric evaluation (MCV) and blood samples at pre-exercise moments, 5 and 60 min. post-exercise. The muscle fatigue induction protocol (MFIP) occurred after the pre-exercise collections. In the 24h, 48h, and 72h sessions, only blood collections and MCVs were performed. PBMT and cryotherapy were always applied and only 2 minutes after the MCV test after 5min. In the second study, forty male subjects were randomized into four groups: placebo, laser / high power continuous light, laser / low power continuous light or a low power laser / pulsed light (composed of lasers and LEDs). A single dose of 180 J or placebo was given to the quadriceps. MCV, delayed onset of muscle pain and creatine kinase (CK) activity were assessed from the baseline to 96 hours after MFIP. Already for the third study, the research included six professional futsal athletes. At each official match the athletes were given PBMT or placebo application 40 min before departure. Baseline blood was collected, immediately after the end of the match and 48 hours after. In addition, the games were filmed and the videos analyzed to quantify the time that the athletes remained in court and the distance covered during the game by each athlete. The biochemical markers evaluated were CK, lactate dehydrogenase, lactate and oxidative damage in lipids and proteins. We obtained as main results: the proposed exercises generated a decrease in MCV, as well as significantly elevated basal creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, lactate and oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. When comparing cryotherapy with PBMT, we can verify that the phototherapy group obtained the best results in muscle recovery. When we chose to test different types of light emission, we observed better results in the low- 6 power laser / pulsed light group. Thus, we chose this type of light to test under conditions of play and we obtained an improvement in the performance and muscle recovery of professional athletes submitted to official futsal matches. Thus, we conclude that the use of PBMT is more efficient than cryotherapy in muscle recovery, that among the possibilities of PBMT low power pulsed light is the best option. By verifying these observations in real situations and conditions outside of the laboratory environment, it is possible to conclude that prior application of PBMT can improve performance and accelerate the recovery of high-level futsal players.