Ergogenic Effects of Photobiomodulation on Performance in the 30-Second Wingate Test: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.

ABSTRACT: Molina Correa, JC, Padoin, S, Varoni, PR, Demarchi, MC, Flores, LJ, Nampo, FK, and de Paula Ramos, S. Ergogenic effects of photobiomodulation on performance in the 30-second Wingate test: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. J Strength Cond Res 36(7): 1901-1908, 2022-The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ergogenic effects of red light (630 nm) photobiomodulation on anaerobic capacity in the Wingate test. Sixteen healthy and physically active male volunteers (21.71 ± 2.49 years of age, body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. The subjects performed 3 Wingate test sessions, with a 48-hour interval between tests. In the first session (baseline session, BS), a Wingate test was performed to evaluate the initial performance. Subjects were paired by performance in the BS and allocated through a draw to receive either the phototherapy (630 nm, 4.6 J/cm2, 6 J per point, 16 points, light-emitting diode [LED] session) or placebo intervention (PLA session) in the second test session. In the third test session, a crossover intervention was performed. The repeated-measures analysis of variance test, followed by Bonferroni post hoc test or Friedman test with Dunn's post hoc test (p < 0.05) and Cohen's d statistic were used for comparisons. The LED session with phototherapy promoted an increase in performance in peak power (p < 0.05), relative power (p < 0.05), RPMpeak (p < 0.05), and peak velocity (p < 0.05), as well as total displacement (p < 0.01) compared with PLA. The mean power (p < 0.05), relative power (p < 0.05), RPMmean (p < 0.01), and mean velocity (p < 0.01) were higher in the LED session than those of BS. We concluded that phototherapy improves performance in Wingate anaerobic exercise, possibly due to large effects on the anaerobic alactic metabolism.

Phototherapy Improves Muscle Recovery and Does Not Impair Repeated Bout Effect in Plyometric Exercise.

ABSTRACT: Padoin, S, Zeffa, AC, Molina Corrêa, JC, de Angelis, TR, Moreira, TB, Barazetti, LK, and de Paula Ramos, S. Phototherapy improves muscle recovery and does not impair repeated bout effect in plyometric exercise. J Strength Cond Res 36(12): 3301-3310, 2022-The effects of photobiomodulation with red (630 nm) and near-infrared (940 nm) light wavelengths were investigated on the inhibition of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and adaptation to the repeated bout effect (RBE). Twenty-eight healthy men were randomized to receive light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) at 630 nm (4.6 J·cm -2 , 97 J energy), LEDT at 940 nm (4.6 J·cm -2 , 114 J), or placebo. After LEDT or placebo treatment, subjects performed 100 drop-jumps (5 sets of 20 repetitions). Creatine kinase, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), countermovement jump (CMJ), and squat jump (SJ) were assessed before, immediately after, and 24, 48, and 72 hours after the bout. After 14 days, the subjects were submitted to the same plyometric exercise, without LEDT, and were evaluated again. Creatine kinase levels increased significantly 72 hours after the first bout in the placebo group in relation to the LEDT 940-nm group ( P < 0.01). The LEDT 630-nm group showed a significant increase in SJ at 24 hours ( P < 0.05), whereas, at 48 hours, the LEDT 940 nm showed a significant increase compared with the placebo group ( P < 0.05). The 2-way analysis of variance revealed an effect for treatment in the SJ ( F = 7.12; P = 0.001). No differences were found between groups for DOMS and CMJ after the first bout. After the second bout of exercise, there was no effect of treatment. The results suggest that treatment with LEDT 630 nm and LEDT 940 nm before eccentric exercise attenuates EIMD without impairing RBE.

Monitoring Internal Training Load, Stress-Recovery Responses, and Immune-Endocrine Parameters in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training.

ABSTRACT: Campos, F, Molina Correa, JC, Canevari, VCM, Branco, BHM, Andreato, LV, and de Paula Ramos, S. Monitoring internal training load, stress-recovery responses, and immune-endocrine parameters in Brazilian jiu-jitsu training. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 723-731, 2022-This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between training loads, stress, and immune-endocrine markers during a precompetitive period in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) athletes. For this, 12 athletes were submitted to 1 physical and 1 technical-tactical training session per day, 5 days a week, for 7 weeks. The saliva sampling and physical tests (countermovement jump [CMJ] and squat jump [SJ]) were performed before starting the training period (pre) and at the fourth week (4-week) and eighth week (post). Session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire-Sport (RESTQ) were applied, and the training load was calculated weekly. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and the Friedman test were used, with significance levels set at p < 0.05. Increased training loads were recorded by the sRPE method in technical-tactical training sessions (p < 0.05). Higher physical loads were reported by athletes during weeks 1-4, contributing to overall higher training load, monotony, and strain during this period (p < 0.05). Increased perception of stress, by the RESTQ, and cortisol were detected, whereas decreased salivary testosterone and salivary immunoglobulin A were observed at 4 weeks (p < 0.05). No significant differences were detected in CMJ and SJ tests, suggesting that training neither elicited significant fatigue and underperformance nor improved strength performance. However, decreasing physical training loads appeared to reduce symptoms of stress and improved recovery, favoring immune recovery and anabolic balance. Thus, the sRPE seems to be a reliable and simple method to monitor training loads in BJJ athletes because variation in values was related to the RESTQ and physiological responses to training loads.