Cryotherapy and Laser Therapy Do Not Interfere in the Response to Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Macedo LB, Borges DT, Lins CAA, Brasileiro JS. Cryotherapy and Laser Therapy Do Not Interfere in the Response to Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JEPonline 2015;18(5):59-68. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cryotherapy and laser therapy in response to eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage on the biceps brachii muscle. This is a randomized clinical trial with random allocation, composed of 60 active women. All subjects underwent an eccentric exercise protocol (2x10 maximum eccentric contractions of nondominant elbow flexors at 60°·sec-1) and three assessments (pre, post, and 48 hrs after the intervention) of pain sensation (measured by algometry), peak torque normalized for body weight and power (measured by isokinetic dynamometry), and muscle activation (measured by surface electromyography). No intergroup statistical differences were observed for algometry (P=0.15), peak torque normalized for body weight (P=0.77), power (P=0.70), and RMS (P=0.76). Thus, the findings indicate that cryotherapy and low-level laser therapy are not sufficient to stimulate and treat the eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.