Innovative integration: optimizing performance through warm-up and photobiomodulation in high-intensity test

TL;DR

This study found that combining a warm-up with photobiomodulation therapy improves high-intensity performance in female futsal players.

Contribution

The novel finding is that a specific warm-up followed by PBMT enhances performance without affecting intensity variables.

Findings

Performance in the YYIR1 test was significantly better with WU + PBMT compared to WU + Placebo and placebo alone.

Combining warm-up and PBMT improves high-intensity intermittent performance in amateur female futsal players.

Intensity variables like heart rate and blood lactate levels were not affected by the WU + PBMT condition.

Abstract

We investigated whether the application of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) immediately after a standardized warm-up (WU + PBMT) or traditional PBMT (no pre-warming) would influence performance in intermittent testing and intensity variables. In a counterbalanced randomized crossover design, twelve female futsal players (mean age: 23.9 ± 3.8 years) attended four sessions. Each session involved either a standardized warm-up or maintaining seated rest for five minutes. Subsequently, PBMT or placebo (with the PBMT device turned off) was applied, followed by the YoYo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 test (YYIR1) during which we assessed heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and blood lactate levels. The performance in YYIIR1 was superior (p = 0.02) in the WU + PBMT condition (440.0 ± 59.0 m) compared to the WU + Placebo (353.3 ± 94.7 m), and placebo alone (no warm-up) (325.0 ± 67.2 m). We conclude that a combination of a specific warm-up before PBMT application improves high-intensity intermittent performance in amateur female futsal players without affecting intensity variables.

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