Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Use in Professional Soccer Players During a State Championship (WBPBM-PSC)

Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Sports; Muscle Strength; Muscle Fatigue; Athletic Performance

Treatments: Radiation: Sham PBM; Radiation: Whole-Body Photobiomodulation (PBM) (Active PBM)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07224646

84660524.7.0000.5504

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to investigate the effects of whole-body photobiomodulation on professional soccer players during a state championship. The primary question is whether photobiomodulation improves recovery, reduces muscle fatigue, and enhances performance compared to standard training without photobiomodulation.

Full description

Detailed Description:

This randomized, controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effects of whole-body photobiomodulation (PBM) on recovery and performance in professional soccer players during a state championship.

The intervention will be performed twice weekly on non-consecutive days for 8 weeks, in combination with each athlete's standard training routine. Participants will be allocated to either an active PBM group or a sham PBM group, both following identical procedures to maintain blinding.

Throughout the study, participants will complete scheduled assessments at baseline, during, and after the 8-week period to monitor performance, muscle soreness, and hematological responses. Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, with a significance level of 5% (two-tailed).

Enrollment: 24 estimated patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male professional soccer players currently competing in the championship
• Age 18-35 years
• Training frequency ≥5 times per week
• Able to attend all PBM/sham sessions and all assessments during the 8-week intervention
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Lower-limb musculoskeletal injury in the last 6 months or currently receiving treatment
• Current use of phototherapy or any other recovery-enhancing modality
• Chronic medical conditions that may affect performance or recovery
• Known sensitivity or contraindication to light-based therapies
• Inability to comply with the intervention or training schedule

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Active PBM

Experimental group

Description:

Whole-body PBM delivered with a Joovv Elite System (6 LED panels; 660±10 nm red and 850±10 nm near-infrared; total panel area ≈12,193 cm²). Athlete stands \~20 cm from panels, wearing eye protection. Two exposures per session: 450 s anterior + 450 s posterior (total 15 min). Measured average irradiance ≈81.62 mW/cm² and energy density per region ≈25.71 J/cm² at 20 cm. Two sessions/week on non-consecutive days for 8 weeks, after routine training.

Treatment:

Radiation: Whole-Body Photobiomodulation (PBM) (Active PBM)

Sham PBM

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Identical setup and schedule, but with therapeutic light disabled (placebo light only). Eye protection and blinding procedures identical to active PBM.

Treatment:

Radiation: Sham PBM