Clinical and scientific recommendations for the use of photobiomodulation therapy in exercise performance enhancement and post-exercise recovery: current evidence and future directions

Abstract

Background: There is about ten years since the first randomized controlled trial looking for the effects of photobiomodulation therapy using low-level laser therapy and/or light emitting diodes therapy in athletic performance enhancement was published. Since then, the knowledge in this field has increasing exponentially.

Objective: Given the fast advance in clinical interest, research and development in the use of photobiomodulation therapy for athletic performance enhancement and also to accelerate post-exercise recovery, as pioneers in this research field we felt the need to establish recommendations to ensure the correct use of the therapy, and also to guide the further studies in this area looking for the achievement of highest scientific evidence. It is important to highlight that the establishment of both clinical and scientific recommendations in this masterclass article were based on the most recent systematic reviews with meta-analysis and randomized controlled trials published in this field. It is important to stress that the recommendations of this masterclass article are based on most recent systematic reviews with meta-analysis and RCTs published in this research field. Future guidelines must follow the same direction and must be based only at the highest scientific evidence, avoiding overstatements and extrapolations based on animal experiments and case-studies.

Keywords: Light emitting diodes therapy; Low-level laser therapy; Phototherapy; Rehabilitation; Sports.