Red Light Therapy: a Potential Strategy to Reduce Sports Injury Risk?
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Near-infrared photobiomodulation, Cycling Warm-up.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Ankle Dorsiflexion. Basic parameters: No limits · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Portugal
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This study investigates whether near-infrared light therapy can acutely improve ankle dorsiflexion mobility and hamstring flexibility, two factors associated with sports injury risk. Healthy adult students will complete three randomized conditions: a control session, a 10-minute cycling warm-up, and a 10-minute exposure to a red and near-infrared LED panel (MITO LIGHT®). Mobility and flexibility will be assessed before and after each condition using the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and the Active Knee Extension Test (AKET). The study aims to determine whether photobiomodulation may serve as a potential strategy to reduce musculoskeletal injury risk.
Detailed description
This randomized crossover study examines the acute effects of near-infrared LED-based photobiomodulation on ankle dorsiflexion mobility and hamstring flexibility in healthy adults. Each participant will complete three sessions in randomized order: (1) control, (2) 10-minute cycling warm-up, and (3) 10-minute exposure to a red and near-infrared LED panel (MITO LIGHT®), emitting wavelengths range of 800-860 nm. The LED panel will be positioned at 15 cm distance at 100% intensity. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and the Active Knee Extension Test (AKET). The study is conducted at the Human Movement Laboratory of the University of Aveiro and follows ethical approval from the CEIC-UA. Data will be anonymized and processed according to GDPR. The goal is to determine whether photobiomodulation may contribute to reducing sports injury risk by improving key biomechanical parameters.
Interventions
- Device Near-infrared photobiomodulation
Exposure to a near-infrared LED panel emitting wavelengths range of 800-860 nm for 10 minutes at a distance of 15 cm and 100% intensity. Mobility and flexibility tests (KWT and AKET) are performed immediately before and after the exposure. - Other Cycling Warm-up
10 minutes cycling warm-up on a stationary cycle ergometer at 55-75% of maximum heart rate, followed by mobility and flexibility assessments.
Primary outcome measures
- Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion [Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after each condition (control, cycling warm-up, and near-infrared photobiomodulation)]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Hamstring flexibility [Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after each condition (control, cycling warm-up, and near-infrared photobiomodulation)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Active and healthy university students
- No current pain or injury in the lower limbs
- Ability to perform the Knee-to-Wall Test (KWT) and Active Knee Extension Test (AKET)
- Availability to attend all three sessions with at least 72 hours between assessments
- Signed informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- Use of photosensitizing medication currently or within the past 3 weeks (as collected in the medical questionnaire)
- Recent musculoskeletal injury of the lower limbs or any sports-related injury with relevant downtime
- Presence of pain, joint limitation, or any medical condition preventing safe performance of KWT or AKET
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
Study locations
Portugal · 1 center
- Human Movement Laboratory, Escola Superior de Saúde da Universidade de Aveiro (ESSUA) — Aveiro
Publications
- Shamsi M, Mirzaei M, Khabiri SS. Universal goniometer and electro-goniometer intra-examiner reliability in measuring the knee range of motion during active knee extension test in patients with chronic low back pain with short hamstring muscle. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2019 Mar 22;11:4. doi: 10.1186/s13102-019-0116-x. eCollection 2019. PMID 30949343
- Olivencia O, Godinez GM, Dages J, Duda C, Kaplan K, Kolber MJ, Kaplan, Kolber. THE RELIABILITY AND MINIMAL DETECTABLE CHANGE OF THE ELY AND ACTIVE KNEE EXTENSION TESTS. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2020 Oct;15(5):776-782. doi: 10.26603/ijspt20200776. PMID 33110697
- Warneke K, Meder J, Ploschberger G, Oraze M, Zechner M, Jochum D, Siegel SD, Konrad A. Can measurement errors explain variance in the relationship between muscle- and tendon stiffness and range of motion?-a blinded reliability and objectivity study. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2025 Sep;125(9):2415-2430. doi: 10.1007/s00421-025-05814-1. Epub 2025 Jun 11. PMID 40500535
- Konor MM, Morton S, Eckerson JM, Grindstaff TL. Reliability of three measures of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012 Jun;7(3):279-87. PMID 22666642
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07477678 · 13-CEIC-UA/2026-M