Effects of Light-Emitting Diode Therapy on Muscle Hypertrophy, Gene Expression, Performance, Damage, and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness

Abstract

Ferraresi C, Bertucci D, Schiavinato J, Reiff R, Araújo A, Panepucci R, Matheucci E, Cunha AF, Arakelian VM, Hamblin MR, Parizotto N, Bagnato V: Effects of light-emitting diode therapy on muscle hypertrophy, gene expression, performance, damage, and delayed-onset muscle soreness: case-control study with a pair of identical twins. Objective The aim of this study was to verify how a pair of monozygotic twins would respond to light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) or placebo combined with a strength-training program during 12 weeks. Design This case-control study enrolled a pair of male monozygotic twins, allocated randomly to LEDT or placebo therapies. Light-emitting diode therapy or placebo was applied from a flexible light-emitting diode array (λ = 850 nm, total energy = 75 J, t = 15 seconds) to both quadriceps femoris muscles of each twin immediately after each strength training session (3 times/wk for 12 weeks) consisting of leg press and leg extension exercises with load of 80% and 50% of the 1-repetition maximum test, respectively. Muscle biopsies, magnetic resonance imaging, maximal load, and fatigue resistance tests were conducted before and after the training program to assess gene expression, muscle hypertrophy and performance, respectively. Creatine kinase levels in blood and visual analog scale assessed muscle damage and delayed-onset muscle soreness, respectively, during the training program. Results Compared with placebo, LEDT increased the maximal load in exercise and reduced fatigue, creatine kinase, and visual analog scale. Gene expression analyses showed decreases in markers of inflammation (interleukin 1β) and muscle atrophy (myostatin) with LEDT. Protein synthesis (mammalian target of rapamycin) and oxidative stress defense (SOD2 [mitochondrial superoxide dismutase]) were up-regulated with LEDT, together with increases in thigh muscle hypertrophy. Conclusions Light-emitting diode therapy can be useful to reduce muscle damage, pain, and atrophy, as well as to increase muscle mass, recovery, and athletic performance in rehabilitation programs and sports medicine.

Photobiomodulation in human muscle tissue: an advantage in sports performance?

“…Ferrerasi et al [54] (level 3b) recently conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study in which a pair of identical twins were treated with a flexible 850 nm LED array (real or placebo delivered to different twins) applied on the quadriceps femoris muscles immediately after each strength training session (3X/week for 12 weeks). Real PBM (compared to placebo) increased the maximal load, muscle hypertrophy, expression of genes for hypertrophy and defense against oxidative stress; and decreased fatigue, markers of muscle damage and DOMS, expression of genes related to inflammation and muscle atrophy in muscle biopsies.…”

“…PBM in conjunction with exercise training programs have demonstrated positive effects on quadriceps femoris muscles regarding 1-RM, torque, fatigue resistance [14,15,54,55,57,59], and ambiguous effects on hypertrophy and muscle work [14,15,57,59]. We could identify a large range in light dose (J) applied on quadriceps femoris muscles in chronic response (18–240 J) [Figure 9].…”

Therapeutic Effect of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Combined with Meibomian Gland Expression (MGX) on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)

“…Anti-inflammation effects including pain relief, healing stimulation, and reduction of inflammation factors are a hallmark of photomodulation [36]. Clinical applications of photomodulation for inflammation included achilles tendinopathy, thyroiditis, muscles, psoriasis, arthritis, and alopecia areata [37][38][39][40][41][42].…”

Photobiomodulation using high- or low-level laser irradiations in patients with lumbar disc degenerative changes: disappointing outcomes and remarks

“…Numerous reports based on basic research – mainly in vitro studies 1 , 2 and animal experiments 3 – 5 – form the basis for claiming that laser therapy can have a beneficial effect on musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, scientists in their clinical trials have repeatedly demonstrated positive anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in selected disease aspects in both objective terms with the use of modern laboratory equipment – eg, pathomorphological or immunocytochemical analysis of isolated tissues 6 , 7 – and subjective terms, based on the feelings of study participants regarding the symptoms of local inflammation or pain reduction. 8 – 10 …”