Effects of low-level laser therapy (808 nm) on indicators of induced muscle damage in humans

Abstract

s / Physical Therapy in Sport 13 (2012) e1–e6 e2 Results: In OW, central adipose skinfold increased by 48.3%, while BMI increased only by 25.2%. MVC increased by 37.7%, which can be partly associated to the higher calf circumference, as an indirect measure of the involved muscle mass. Kp-EMG increased by 25.6%. Such an increase may be due to the higher postural charge on the tendinous structures inOW. In the sameway, SIMT-EMG increased by 72.6%,which can be due to the adaptive response of themuscle and tendon. In thisway, the adaptive response of SIMT-EMG canbeattributedpartly to a possiblefiber type transitionphenomenon, i.e. a highercontent in slow typefibers inOW, since MT stiffness increased, while slow type fiber proportion increased. Animal studies on the soleus muscle of obese rats indicated a higher content in slow type fibers. Conclusions: Rehabilitation/training programs for OW should take into account such differences in muscle force and elastic properties, in order to obtain the best results from specific rehabilitation programs. doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2012.03.003 NEUROMUSCULAR EFFICIENCY OF THE VASTUS MEDIALIS OBLIQUUS IN SOCCER ATHLETES FOLLOWING AN ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION Shalima Chaves, Nahra Reboucas, Luise Freitas, Samya Ferreira, Pedro Lima, Rodrigo Oliveira 1 Federal University of Ceara, Brazil Purpose: To evaluate the neuromuscular efficiency (NME) of the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) in professional soccer athletes at 4 to 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction compared to the unaffected limb. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 16 male professional soccer players after ACL reconstruction (4–6 months postoperatively). The athletes underwent a rehabilitation program. Theywere evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer with an established protocol of contractions CON/CON for the knee at 60 /s (to assess muscle strength) and 300 /s (to assess muscle power), 5 and 15 repetitions, respectively. The activation of VMO was evaluated with surface electromyography, the SENIAN standardization and normalization of the data by the %MVIC was adopted. Data were analyzed by ttest for independent samples. Results: The sample mean age was 21.62 4.95 years, meanweight of 76.31 8.60 kg, mean height 1.80 0.05 m, mean BMI of 26.37 1.56 Kg/m2, and 50% were right-handed and 31.3% had the dominant leg involved in the procedure. For the peak torque variable, the results for the involved and uninvolved knees were 258.67 40.75 Nm and 338.71 1.79 Nm at 60 /s, respectively (p1⁄4 0.92); and 143.33 25.12 Nm and 203.59 213.22 Nm at 300 /s, respectively (p1⁄4 0.27). For the activation of VMO, the results for the involved and uninvolved knees were 219.65 210.25 mV and 220.86 209.00 mV at 60 /s, respectively (p1⁄4 0.98); and 215.29 210.71 mV and 216.00 209.33 mV at 300 /s, respectively (p1⁄4 0.99). Therewas no statistical difference (p1⁄4 0.39) between the NMEof both knees during knee extension at 60 /s, with 1.00 0.76 mV/N m for the involved knee and 0.81 0.43 mV/N m for the uninvolved knee. There was no statistical difference (p1⁄4 0.20) between the NMEof both knees during knee extension at 300 /s, with 1.07 0.26 mV/Nm for the involved knee and 0.96 0.21 mV/N m for the uninvolved knee. Conclusions: Therewas no difference in the neuromuscular efficiency of the VMO following ACL reconstruction in professional soccer athletes 4–6months postoperatively.