Preliminary pre-post changes in neuromuscular performance after application of a wearable photobiomodulation device in young tennis athletes

Athletes require effective recovery strategies to sustain performance, particularly in high-demand sports. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has emerged as a non-invasive approach capable of supporting muscle function without reported adverse effects. Wearable nanotechnology-based devices, such as Taopatch®, allow continuous and localized PBM delivery, representing a potential tool for sports applications. This pilot study investigated the acute effects of Taopatch® on neuromuscular performance in 28 young tennis players (11 females, 17 males; age 14.41 ± 2.60 years). Participants completed Squat Jump (SJ), Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), stiffness, and reaction time assessments before (T1) and after a 15-minute application period (T2). Taopatch® application was associated with pre-post increases in SJ flight time (unadjusted p = 0.042) and maximal pre-take-off velocity (Vmax; unadjusted p = 0.012), while CMJ concentric work also increased (unadjusted p = 0.014). Several effects remained significant after Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate correction, whereas none remained significant after the more conservative Holm-Bonferroni correction. Stiffness responses varied among subgroups, while reaction time remained unchanged. These preliminary findings suggest a potential association between Taopatch® application and acute changes neuromuscular performance. However, the statistical evidence was sensitive to the multiple-comparison correction applied, and controlled studies are required to confirm these exploratory observations.