Red Light Therapy: a Potential Strategy to Reduce Sports Injury Risk?

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT07477678

Cláudio da Silva Ferreira40 enrolled

Overview

This study investigates whether near-infrared light therapy can acutely improve ankle dorsiflexion mobility and hamstring flexibility, two factors associated with sports injury risk. Healthy adult students will complete three randomized conditions: a control session, a 10-minute cycling warm-up, and a 10-minute exposure to a red and near-infrared LED panel (MITO LIGHT®). Mobility and flexibility will be assessed before and after each condition using the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and the Active Knee Extension Test (AKET). The study aims to determine whether photobiomodulation may serve as a potential strategy to reduce musculoskeletal injury risk.

This randomized crossover study examines the acute effects of near-infrared LED-based photobiomodulation on ankle dorsiflexion mobility and hamstring flexibility in healthy adults. Each participant will complete three sessions in randomized order: (1) control, (2) 10-minute cycling warm-up, and (3) 10-minute exposure to a red and near-infrared LED panel (MITO LIGHT®), emitting wavelengths range of 800-860 nm. The LED panel will be positioned at 15 cm distance at 100% intensity. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and the Active Knee Extension Test (AKET). The study is conducted at the Human Movement Laboratory of the University of Aveiro and follows ethical approval from the CEIC-UA. Data will be anonymized and processed according to GDPR. The goal is to determine whether photobiomodulation may contribute to reducing sports injury risk by improving key biomechanical parameters.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Interventions

Near-infrared photobiomodulationDEVICE

Exposure to a near-infrared LED panel emitting wavelengths range of 800-860 nm for 10 minutes at a distance of 15 cm and 100% intensity. Mobility and flexibility tests (KWT and AKET) are performed immediately before and after the exposure.

Cycling Warm-upOTHER

10 minutes cycling warm-up on a stationary cycle ergometer at 55-75% of maximum heart rate, followed by mobility and flexibility assessments.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Active and healthy university students * No current pain or injury in the lower limbs * Ability to perform the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and Active Knee Extension Test (AKET) * Availability to attend all three sessions with at least 72 hours between assessments * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Use of photosensitizing medication currently or within the past 3 weeks (as collected in the medical questionnaire) * Recent musculoskeletal injury of the lower limbs or any sports-related injury with relevant downtime * Presence of pain, joint limitation, or any medical condition preventing safe performance of KWT or AKET

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion

Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion will be assessed using the weight-bearing lunge test (knee-to-wall test). The distance from the hallux to the wall (cm) will be measured with the knee touching the wall and the heel on the floor. Higher values indicate greater dorsiflexion mobility

Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after each condition (control, cycling warm-up, and near-infrared photobiomodulation)

Secondary Outcomes

Hamstring flexibility

Hamstring flexibility will be assessed using the active knee extension test (AKET). With the hip flexed to 90° in supine position, the participant will actively extend the knee, and the knee flexion angle (degrees) will be measured with a goniometer. Lower angles indicate greater hamstring flexibility.