Transcranial Magnetic Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS) Enhances Physical Performance in Mixed Martial Arts Athletes: A Pilot Study

TL;DR

This pilot study found that transcranial magnetic stimulation improved mixed martial arts athletes' kicking performance without affecting blood stress markers.

Contribution

First study to show iTBS enhances MMA performance while maintaining oxidative stress balance.

Findings

iTBS group showed significant improvement in kicking tests compared to placebo.

No significant changes in oxidative stress biomarkers were observed.

Placebo group showed no performance or biomarker changes.

Abstract

Background: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been employed in athletes from various sports to enhance performance; however, no data have focused on its effects in mixed martial arts (MMA). This study investigated the effects of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), an alternative modality of TMS, on motor performance and plasma oxidative-stress biomarkers of ten male mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with ten professional MMA athletes (aged 18–35 years). Participants were assigned to the experimental (iTBS) or placebo groups. Baseline and post-intervention performance were assessed using the Multiple Frequency Speed of Kick Test (MFSKT) and a Progressive Speed Kick Test (PSKT). Plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress, including thiols, total antioxidant capacity, 8-isoprostane, and carbonylated proteins, were measured before and after the performance tests in both groups. The iTBS was applied to the left primary motor cortex at an 80 motor threshold for the experimental group and at sub-threshold levels for the placebo group. A two-way ANOVA for paired groups, followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests, were used to analyze the repeated measures, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: The findings revealed significant improvements on the MFSKT [25.4 (±1.2) kicks vs. 20.8 (±1.4) kicks] and the PSKT [27.6 (±1.5) vs. 22.4 (±1.7) kicks] in the iTBS group vs. placebo, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of the serum redox balance biomarkers pre- and post-test, suggesting a limited impact on redox homeostasis despite performance enhancement. The placebo group showed no notable changes in either test or biomarker levels. Conclusions: These results highlight the improved physical performance in MMA athletes without altering redox biomarkers in the blood—emphasizing its applicability for neuromodulation in sports.

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