Effects of photobiomodulation on muscle recovery
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction. Photobiomodulation is a non-invasive intervention that uses laser or light-emitting diodes in the visible or infrared spectrum to modulate cellular activity. In the sports field, it can accelerate muscle recovery after intense exertion, improve biochemical markers of muscle damage, reduce fatigue, and modulate oxidative stress. Objective. To analyze the effectiveness of photobiomodulation in muscle recovery in elite athletes. Methodology. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted using the Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline databases, following the PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials were selected, and methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale, considering only those with a score >7. Results. 256 articles were identified, and after applying the inclusion criteria, 10 studies were selected. The reviewed evidence indicates that photobiomodulation is an effective method for muscle recovery in athletes, as it improves physical performance and accelerates muscle recovery processes. Conclusion. Photobiomodulation has shown positive effects on muscle recovery, especially when applied before or after exercise. However, the evidence is not conclusive, as some studies report no significant differences. This suggests that the treatment's effectiveness may be influenced by variables such as the dosage used, the timing of application, and the characteristics of the sport practiced. General Area of Study: Health Sciences. Specific area of study: Physiotherapy. Type of study: Systematic bibliographic review.
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Hidalgo Chicaiza, A. F., Guevara Hernández, D. M., Ortiz Pérez, S. M., & Ocaña Villacrés, Y. D. (2026). Effects of photobiomodulation on muscle recovery. Anatomía Digital, 9(1.1), 68-81. https://doi.org/10.33262/anatomiadigital.v9i1.1.3594
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Articulos de revisión bibliográfica
References
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13. Teixeira CL, Mezzaroba PV, Peserico CS, Machado FA. Effect of photobiomodulation on maximal lactate production rate on swimmers: a randomized, crossover, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Motriz: Revista de Educação Física [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Nov 22];28:e102200017121. Available from: https://www.scielo.br/j/motriz/a/N5YXPWkzxNx5x4p5zkHDCLF/?lang=en
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15. Machado CDSM, Casalechi HL, Vanin AA, de Azevedo JB, de Carvalho P de TC, Leal-Junior ECP. Does photobiomodulation therapy combined to static magnetic field (PBMT-sMF) promote ergogenic effects even when the exercised muscle group is not irradiated? A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Sports Science, Medicine & Rehabilitation [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 22];12(1):49. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13102-020-00197-6
16. Leal-Junior ECP, de Oliveira MFD, Joensen J, Stausholm MB, Bjordal JM, Tomazoni SS. What is the optimal time-response window for the use of photobiomodulation therapy combined with static magnetic field (PBMT-sMF) for the improvement of exercise performance and recovery, and for how long the effects last? A randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. BMC sports Science, Medicine & Rehabilitation [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 22];12(1):64. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13102-020-00214-8
17. Silva Tomazoni S, Dos Santos Monteiro Machado C, De Marchi T, Casalechi HL, Bjordal JM, de Carvalho P de TC, et al. Infrared low-level laser therapy (photobiomodulation therapy) before intense progressive running test of High-Level soccer players: effects on functional, muscle damage, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers-A randomized controlled trial. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2025 Nov 22];6239058. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/6239058
18. De Marchi T, Schmitt VM, Machado GP, de Sene JS, de Col CD, Tairova O, et al. Does photobiomodulation therapy is better than cryotherapy in muscle recovery after a high-intensity exercise? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lasers in Medical Science [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2025 Nov 22];32(2):429-437. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10103-016-2139-9
19. Aver Vanin A, De Marchi T, Tomazoni SS, Tairova O, Leão Casalechi H, de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho P, et al. Pre-exercise infrared low-level laser therapy (810 nm) in skeletal muscle performance and postexercise recovery in humans, what is the optimal dose? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2025 Nov 22];34(10):473–482. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/pho.2015.3992
2. López-Valenciano A, Ruiz-Pérez I, Garcia-Gómez A, Vera-Garcia FJ, De Ste Croix M, Myer GD, et al. Epidemiology of injuries in professional football: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 22];54(12):711–718. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099577
3. Rodríguez MÁ, García-Calleja P, Terrados N, Crespo I, Del Valle M, Olmedillas H. Injury in CrossFit®: a systematic review of epidemiology and risk factors. The Physician and Sportsmedicine [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Nov 22];50(1):3–10. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2020.1864675
4. Al Attar WSA, Khaledi EH, Bakhsh JM, Faude O, Ghulam H, Sanders RH. Injury prevention programs that include balance training exercises reduce ankle injury rates among soccer players: a systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Nov 22];68(3):165–173. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2022.05.019
5. Dupuy O, Douzi W, Theurot D, Bosquet L, Dugué B. An evidence-based approach for choosing post-exercise recovery techniques to reduce markers of muscle damage, soreness, fatigue, and inflammation: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Frontiers in Physiology [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2025 Nov 22];9:403. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00403
6. Tsuk S, Lev YH, Fox O, Carasso R, Dunsky A. Does photobiomodulation therapy enhance maximal muscle strength and muscle recovery? Journal of Human Kinetics [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 22];73(1):135–144. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2019-0138
7. Ailioaie LM, Litscher G. Photobiomodulation and sports: Results of a narrative review. Life (Basel) [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Nov 22];11(12):1339. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/life11121339
8. Spadaccini Silva de Oliveira AF de, da Silva JL, Marcal Camillo CA, Carvalho Andraus RA, Prado Maia L. Does photobiomodulation improve muscle performance and recovery? A systematic review. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte [Internet] 2023 [cited 2025 Nov 22];29:e2021-0412. Available from: https://www.scielo.br/j/rbme/a/BkXv8gzmSMdhpDJnmxNHJKS/?lang=en
9. Zagatto AM, Dutra YM, Lira FS, Antunes BM, Faustini JB, Malta E de S, et al. Full body photobiomodulation therapy to induce faster muscle recovery in water polo athletes: preliminary results. Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 22];38(12):766–772. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/photob.2020.4803
10. Machado AF, Leal-Junior ECP, Batista NP, Espinoza RMCPP, Hidalgo RBR, Carvalho FA, et al. Photobiomodulation therapy applied during an exercise-training program does not promote additional effects in trained individuals: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Nov 22];26(1):100388. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2021.100388
11. Feng Q, Huang G. Effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on skeletal muscle fatigue and damage. Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Nov 22];22(2):919. Available from: https://ojs.sin-chn.com/index.php/mcb/article/view/919
12. Lanferdini FJ, Baroni BM, Lazzari CD, Sakugawa RL, Dellagrana RA, Diefenthaeler F, et al. Effects of photobiomodulation therapy on performance in successive time-to-exhaustion cycling tests: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 Nov 22];8(4):144. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk8040144
13. Teixeira CL, Mezzaroba PV, Peserico CS, Machado FA. Effect of photobiomodulation on maximal lactate production rate on swimmers: a randomized, crossover, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Motriz: Revista de Educação Física [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Nov 22];28:e102200017121. Available from: https://www.scielo.br/j/motriz/a/N5YXPWkzxNx5x4p5zkHDCLF/?lang=en
14. Pinto HD, Casalechi HL, de Marchi T, Dos Santos Monteiro Machado C, Dias LB, Lino MMA, et al. Photobiomodulation therapy combined with a static magnetic field applied in different moments enhances performance and accelerates muscle recovery in CrossFit® athletes: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Nov 22]; 9968428. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9968428
15. Machado CDSM, Casalechi HL, Vanin AA, de Azevedo JB, de Carvalho P de TC, Leal-Junior ECP. Does photobiomodulation therapy combined to static magnetic field (PBMT-sMF) promote ergogenic effects even when the exercised muscle group is not irradiated? A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Sports Science, Medicine & Rehabilitation [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 22];12(1):49. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13102-020-00197-6
16. Leal-Junior ECP, de Oliveira MFD, Joensen J, Stausholm MB, Bjordal JM, Tomazoni SS. What is the optimal time-response window for the use of photobiomodulation therapy combined with static magnetic field (PBMT-sMF) for the improvement of exercise performance and recovery, and for how long the effects last? A randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. BMC sports Science, Medicine & Rehabilitation [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 22];12(1):64. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13102-020-00214-8
17. Silva Tomazoni S, Dos Santos Monteiro Machado C, De Marchi T, Casalechi HL, Bjordal JM, de Carvalho P de TC, et al. Infrared low-level laser therapy (photobiomodulation therapy) before intense progressive running test of High-Level soccer players: effects on functional, muscle damage, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers-A randomized controlled trial. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2025 Nov 22];6239058. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/6239058
18. De Marchi T, Schmitt VM, Machado GP, de Sene JS, de Col CD, Tairova O, et al. Does photobiomodulation therapy is better than cryotherapy in muscle recovery after a high-intensity exercise? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lasers in Medical Science [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2025 Nov 22];32(2):429-437. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10103-016-2139-9
19. Aver Vanin A, De Marchi T, Tomazoni SS, Tairova O, Leão Casalechi H, de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho P, et al. Pre-exercise infrared low-level laser therapy (810 nm) in skeletal muscle performance and postexercise recovery in humans, what is the optimal dose? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2025 Nov 22];34(10):473–482. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/pho.2015.3992