Phototherapy for Improvement of Performance and Exercise Recovery: Comparison of 3 Commercially Available Devices

Context:  Recent studies suggest the prophylactic use of low-powered laser/light has ergogenic effects on athletic performance and postactivity recovery. Manufacturers of high-powered lasers/light devices claim that these can produce the same clinical benefits with increased power and decreased irradiation time; however, research with high-powered lasers is lacking. Objective:  To evaluate the magnitude of observed phototherapeutic effects with 3 commercially available devices. Design:  Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Setting:  Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants:  Forty healthy untrained male participants. Intervention(s):  Participants were randomized into 4 groups: placebo, high-powered continuous laser/light, low-powered continuous laser/light, or low-powered pulsed laser/light (comprising both lasers and light-emitting diodes). A single dose of 180 J or placebo was applied to the quadriceps. Main Outcome Measure(s):  Maximum voluntary contraction, delayed-onset muscle sorenes...