Phototherapy in Association to Resistance Training in the Elderly: the Effect on Muscle Strength, Muscle Mass and Functional Capacity

Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre

Status: Completed

Conditions: Elderly Men

Treatments: Device: Placebo Low Level Laser Therapy; Device: Active Low Level Laser Therapy; Behavioral: Resistance Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03287284

59328316.9.0000.5345

Details and patient eligibility

About

Phototherapy has been largely used in rehabilitation programs due to its analgesic, antiinflammatory and healing effects. Lately, its effects of optimizing the results of resistance training on young individuals have been studied. However, there is a lack of studies on its effect on the elderly population. The objective of the present study is to verify the effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on the results of resistance training in the elderly. The study will be a randomized doubled-blinded controlled trial. 30 elderly men with age ranging from 60 to 80 years will be included and randomized between Placebo Group (placebo LLLT + Resistance Training) and LLLT Group (active LLLT + Resistance Training). All volunteers will be submitted to a control period of four weeks before the beginning of the resistance training, which will have 12 weeks of duration. The assessments will be done at baseline, after the control period and after the training period. The training sessions will be performed twice a week and the training protocol will be performed with repetition maximum periodization. The LLLT will be applied before the training sessions on eight points of the quadriceps muscles, leading to a total of 240 Joules on each leg. The placebo LLLT will be applied on the same way, but with the equipment turned off. The assessments will include muscle architecture by ultrasonography, muscle strength by isokinetic dynamometer and 1 Repetition Maximum test of leg-extension and leg-press exercises, and functional capacity by the 6-Minute Walking Test, 30s Sit to Stand Test, Timed Up-and-Go Test and Stair Ascent Test.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 60 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Elderly men with age ranging from 60 to 80 years in condition to participate in the strength training program.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who already participate in strength training programs;
• Individuals who participated in strength training programs less than three months before the beginning of the study;
• Individuals with any kind musculoskeletal injuries in the lower limbs that impair the performance of the exercises;
• Individuals with contraindications to the performance of high intensity exercises, such as cardiovascular or neurological diseases;
• Individuals with difficulties in understanding and/or performing the exercises;
• Individuals who did not attend to at least 85% of the sessions or had 02 consecutive absences and did not recover them.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

LLLT Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Active Low Level Laser Therapy application with a dose of 240 Joules before resistance training

Treatment:

Device: Active Low Level Laser Therapy

Behavioral: Resistance Training

Placebo Group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo Low Level Laser Therapy application before resistance training

Treatment:

Behavioral: Resistance Training

Device: Placebo Low Level Laser Therapy