Key result
Photobiomodulation therapy applied before successive time-to-exhaustion tests increased performance of the first and second tests by ~10-12%, but effects were attenuated in the third test.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to investigate the effects of photobiomodulation therapy on performance, oxygen uptake kinetics, and lower limb muscle oxygenation during three successive time-to-exhaustion tests in cyclists.
Does photobiomodulation therapy improve performance and oxygen uptake kinetics in cyclists during successive time-to-exhaustion tests?
RCT (n=16)
Double-blind
crossover
Does photobiomodulation therapy improve performance and oxygen uptake kinetics in cyclists during successive time-to-exhaustion tests?
Photobiomodulation therapy applied before cycling tests acutely improves performance and muscle oxygenation during the first two successive exhaustive efforts, though the benefit diminishes by the third effort.
PBMT may boost repeated exhaustive cycling performance; extends prior single-bout evidence to successive TTEs in trained athletes.
The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on performance, oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics, and lower limb muscle oxygenation during three successive time-to-exhaustions (TTEs) in cyclists. This was a double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled trial study. Sixteen cyclists (~23 years) with a cycling training volume of ~460 km/week volunteered for this study. In the first session, cyclists performed a maximal incremental test to determine maximal oxygen uptake and maximal power output (POMAX). In the following sessions, cyclists performed three consecutive TTEs at POMAX. Before each test, PBMT (135 J/thigh) or a placebo (PLA) was applied to both thighs. VO2 amplitude, O2 deficit, time delay, oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb), deoxyhemoglobin (HHb), and total hemoglobin (tHb) were measured during tests on the right vastus lateralis. The PBMT applied before three successive TTE increased performance of the first and second TTE (~10–12%) tests, speed of VO2 and HHb kinetics during the first test, and increased peripheral muscle oxygenation (increase in HHb and tHb) in the first and second exhaustion tests. However, the PBMT effects were attenuated in the third TTE, as performance and all the other outcomes were similar to the ones from the PLA intervention. In summary, PBMT application increased the first and second successive TTEs, speed of VO2, and muscle oxygenation.
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Lanferdini et al. (2023) conducted an RCT in Healthy cyclists (n=16). Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) vs. Placebo was evaluated on Performance in successive time-to-exhaustion (TTE) cycling tests. Photobiomodulation therapy applied before successive time-to-exhaustion tests increased performance of the first and second tests by ~10-12%, but effects were attenuated in the third test.
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