Terapia de fotobiomodulação (PBMT) e/ou crioterapia na recuperação do músculo esquelético, o que é melhor? um estudo clínico randomizado placebo controlado

Abstract

Background/Aim: Cryotherapy for post-exercise recovery remains widely used despite the lack of quality evidence. Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) studies have demonstrated positive scientific evidence to suggest its use. The study aims to evaluate PBMT and cryotherapy as a single or combined treatment on skeletal muscle recovery after eccentric contractions of knee extensors. Methods: Fifty healthy male volunteers were recruited and randomized into five groups (PBMT, Cryotherapy, Cryotherapy+PBMT, PMBT+Cryotherapy or Placebo) for a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial that evaluated exercise performance (maximum voluntary contraction - MVC), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and muscle damage (Creatine Kinase - CK). Assessments were performed at baseline, immediately after, and at 1, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. Comparator treatments was performed 3 minutes after exercise and repeated at 24, 48 and 72 hours. PBMT was applied with GameDay™ (905nm super-pulsed laser, 875nm and 640nm LEDs combined, Multi Radiance Medical™), and cryotherapy by flexible rubber ice packs. Results: PBMT alone was optimal for post-exercise recovery with improved MVC, decreased DOMS and CK activity (p<0.05) from 24 to 96 hours compared to placebo, cryotherapy and Cryotherapy+PBMT. In the PBMT+Cryotherapy group, the effect of PBMT was decreased (p>0.05), but demonstrated significant improvement in MVC, decreased DOMS and CK activity (p<0.05). Cryotherapy as single treatment and Cryotherapy+PBMT were similar to placebo (p>0.05). Conclusions: We conclude that PBMT used as single treatment is the best modality for enhancement of post-exercise restitution, leading to complete recovery to baseline levels from 24 hours after high-intensity eccentric contractions.