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

Abstract

Photobiomodulation (PBM) describes the use of red or near-infrared (NIR) light to vstimulate, heal, and regenerate damaged tissue. Both pre-conditioning (light delivered to muscles before exercise) and PBM applied after exercise can increase sports performance in athletes. This review covers the effects of PBM on human muscle tissue in clinical trials in volunteers related to sports performance and in athletes. The parameters used were categorized into those with positive effects or no effects on muscle performance and recovery. Randomized controlled trials and case-control studies in both healthy trained and untrained participants, and elite athletes were retrieved from MEDLINE up to 2016. Performance metrics included fatigue, number of repetitions, torque, hypertrophy; measures of muscle damage and recovery such as creatine kinase and delayed onset muscle soreness. Searches retrieved 533 studies, of which 46 were included in the review (n=1045 participants). Studies used single laser probes, cluster of laser-diodes, LED-clusters, mixed clusters (lasers and LEDs), and flexible LED arrays. Both red, NIR, and red/NIR mixtures were used. PBM can increase muscle mass gained after training, and decrease inflammation and oxidative stress in muscle biopsies. We raise the question of whether PBM should be permitted in athletic competition by international regulatory authorities.

Retrospective Observational Study and Analysis of Two Different Photobiomodulation Therapy Protocols Combined with Rehabilitation Therapy as Therapeutic Interventions for Canine Degenerative Myelopathy

“…It is possible that differences in musculoskeletal treatment benefits-due to differences in the protocols' PBM parameters-entirely account for the observed results. However, since the PBM parameters used in the PTCL-A group have been shown to be effective in musculoskeletal therapies, [24][25][26][27][28] this is unlikely. A more plausible explanation is that the irradiance at the spinal cord delivered by the PTCL-B group was sufficient to produce a clinically meaningful effect, while that of the PTCL-A group was not.…”

“Photobiomics”: Can Light, Including Photobiomodulation, Alter the Microbiome?

“…The large mass of muscle that is exposed to light combined with the high numbers of mitochondria inside muscle cells, means that the resulting increase in metabo-lism can have effects on the whole body. Not only has PBM been shown to be important for increasing athletic performance, and encouraging recovery from strenuous exercise, 59 but also the increased consumption of glucose, and the burning of fat goes some way to improving diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and countering obesity and systemic inflammation. 60 In fact, the study of PBM and metabolomics is a nascent area of study.…”

Differential responses of myoblasts and myotubes to photobiomodulation are associated with mitochondrial number

“…Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non‐invasive treatment that utilises light at a power output less than 500 mW at wavelengths from 400 to 1100 nm to promote tissue healing, reduce inflammation and induce analgesia . Over 800 publications have reported the efficacy of PBM in treating an array of musculoskeletal conditions including subacute and chronic low back pain and exercise induced muscle fatigue . Musculoskeletal disorders relate to an array of conditions that affect movement and are a significant burden, not only to the affected individual but also to healthcare systems due to the costs associated with management.…”