Clinical Research Directory

Photobiomodulation on NMES-Induced Muscle Fatigue and Damage: A Pilot Study

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an effective tool for muscle strengthening and rehabilitation, but its clinical application is often limited by rapid neuromuscular fatigue, muscle discomfort, and potential muscle damage. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) using low-level lasers or LEDs has been proposed as an ergogenic and protective modality capable of attenuating exercise-induced muscle fatigue and damage. However, evidence regarding the acute preventive effects of PBMT on NMES-induced fatigue and muscle damage in humans remains limited and conflicting. The purpose of this randomized, sham-controlled, crossover pilot trial was to evaluate the acute effects of PBMT applied prior to an NMES-induced fatigue protocol on knee extensor neuromuscular fatigability, muscle damage, discomfort, and functional performance in healthy young individuals. Healthy participants had both lower limbs randomized to receive either active PBMT (810 nm, 240 J total per limb across 8 points) or sham PBMT 5 minutes prior to an NMES fatigue protocol (20 minutes of evoked isometric contractions at 20% of maximal voluntary contraction). Primary and secondary outcomes-including maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque, supramaximal twitch torque, muscle damage via ultrasound echointensity (rectus femoris and vastus lateralis), pain pressure thresholds (algometry), visual analog scale (VAS) for discomfort, and functional tests (Single Hop Test and stair ascent/descent)-were assessed at baseline, immediately post-fatigue, and at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-intervention.

A Biomechanical Study of Collaborative FES on Lower Limb Motor Function in the Elderly

This study will first conduct a precise assessment of the differences in muscle coordination among the elderly through muscle synergy analysis; then, based on this, it will extract abnormal synergy patterns and muscle activation patterns, and reconstruct the intervention's synergy modules to fit the intervention electrostimulation curve; finally, electrical stimulation interventions will be carried out on different elderly individuals under two conditions: sitting and walking, to evaluate the intervention effects and analyze the biomechanical mechanisms of its effectiveness.

Recovery Optimization Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Injuries in Soccer Players

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate if recovery interventions using cold and hot water immersion can reduce the risk of injuries in amateur soccer players. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do cold water immersions reduce muscle fatigue and improve performance more effectively than hot water immersions? What is the optimal timing and duration for these recovery interventions to maximize their effectiveness? Researchers will compare: Cold Water Immersion (CWI) Hot Water Immersion (HWI) No Immersion (NI) Thermographic Immersion (TI) based on individual thermal profiles Participants will: Undergo thermographic assessments to determine their thermal profiles. Perform physical tests such as isometric strength tests, countermovement jumps (CMJ), and squats with 50% body weight. Complete wellness questionnaires to assess their subjective recovery and fatigue levels. Provide blood and urine samples for biomarker analysis. Participate in recovery interventions (CWI, HWI, or TI) based on their assigned group.