Photobiomodulation Therapy on Performance in Successive Cycling Tests

"Phototherapy treatment (Photobiomodulation therapy or placebo) was performed using a Photobiomodulation therapy device (Vectra Genisys Systems, Chattanooga Group, Dallas, TX, USA). The cluster probe consisted of five low-level laser therapy diodes (850 nm) and 28 light emitting diodes therapy (670 nm, 880 nm, and 950 nm). Photobiomodulation therapy was applied in nine sites of each quadriceps femoris muscle~. A dosage of 15 J per site led to a total energy of 135 J per thigh, effectively increasing cycling performance in a previous study. We chose to apply Photobiomodulation therapy specifically to the quadriceps femoris because this muscle group is of utmost significance in generating torque and propelling the pedaling cycle. Its pivotal role in cycling performance made this muscle a prime target for the Photobiomodulation therapy intervention in our study."

The placebo treatment was performed in exactly the same manner as the Photobiomodulation therapy treatment, but with the device switched off, and the cluster was held stationary in contact with the skin at a 90° angle, with light pressure on the skin. The total application time of Photobiomodulation therapy or placebo was \~5 min for both limbs (9 points per thigh = 18 points × 16 s per point) before each time-to-exhaustion test.