The Enhancement Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Muscle Training with Combined NMES and BFR

National Cheng-Kung University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Blood Flow Restriction Therapy; Muscle Strength; Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES); Laser Therapy, Low-Level

Treatments: Device: blood flow restriction; Device: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation; Device: Low Level Laser Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06739148

A-ER-113-089

Details and patient eligibility

About

Blood flow restriction training (BFR) with neuromuscular stimulation (NMES) is employed for individuals with limited mobility and joint issues. However, this approach is highly susceptible to muscle fatigue, despite its potential beneficial effects on muscle strength. Recently, there has been growing interest in using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to address muscle fatigue. LLLT, known for improving microcirculation and mitochondrial function, shows promise in alleviating enhanced muscle fatigue associated with combined BFR and NMES training. Despite these positive effects, there is limited knowledge about the short-term training impact of combined BFR and NMES with LLLT preconditioning. This project aims to investigate whether the photobiomodulation effects of LLLT could further enhance the training benefits of combined BFR and NMES. The study will employ an integrated analysis of decomposition surface EMG, EEG, and mechanomyogram to explore the behavior and neuromuscular mechanisms underlying the training benefits. If additional benefits are identified, LLLT pre-conditioning is recommended to enhance the use of combined BFR and NMES.

Enrollment: 44 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Healthy adults aged 20-40, without a diagnosis of cardiovascular or neuromusculoskeletal diseases.
2. Normal vision range after visual correction.

Exclusion criteria

1. Exclude students who have a teacher-student relationship with the principal investigator to ensure the participants' autonomy.
2. History of brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, or other neuromuscular-related conditions.
3. Contraindications for laser therapy: pregnancy, malignant tumor tissues, bleeding areas, and photosensitive skin regions.
4. Presence of any contraindications for blood flow restriction training, such as a history of injury or strain in the non-dominant arm's biceps, deep vein thrombosis or venous occlusion in the non-dominant arm, acute unstable fractures in the non-dominant arm, acute regional infections in the non-dominant arm, severe peripheral arterial occlusive disease in the non-dominant arm, complete lymphatic obstruction in the non-dominant arm, and edema due to acute pulmonary edema or congestive heart failure in the non-dominant arm.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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44 participants in 2 patient groups

LLLT+BFR+NMES

Experimental group

Description:

LLLT: low-level laser therapy BFR: blood flow restriction NMES:neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation 35 min/time, 3 times/weeks, 3 weeks

Treatment:

Device: Low Level Laser Therapy

Device: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Device: blood flow restriction

BFR+NMES

Experimental group

Description:

BFR: blood flow restriction NMES:Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation 35 min/time, 3 times/weeks, 3 weeks

Treatment:

Device: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Device: blood flow restriction