Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years - 45Years
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
ID06380179

Assessing the Impact of Post-Exercise Photobiomodulation Application on Performance, Recovery, and Behavioral State in Trained Special Operator Population

Led by Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation Research for Operational Readiness (MIRROR) · Updated on 2025-07-03

116

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

N/A

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

M

Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation Research for Operational Readiness (MIRROR)

Lead Sponsor

U

Uniformed Services University (USU) of the Health Sciences

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel undergo continuous training to maintain peak physical and cognitive performance, requiring effective recovery methods. This research evaluates photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), a noninvasive low-level laser treatment aimed at enhancing healing, recovery, and performance. The study focuses on the physiological and behavioral effects of PBMT after exercise in a US Army SOF tactical athlete population, addressing the limited evidence of PBMT's impact on cognitive and physical recovery in military personnel. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active PBMT or a sham treatment. PBMT is delivered at 32 to 40 watts depending on skin pigmentation, applied to the quadriceps using a specialized device with Smart Hand Piece technology. Treatment sessions last approximately 5 to 20 minutes, administered three times weekly over three weeks. The sham treatment mimics all procedures without emitting therapeutic light, allowing comparison of effects. Throughout the study, participants will undergo multiple assessments including countermovement jump performance, quadriceps and hamstrings strength testing, and self-reported pain and fatigue scales. Sleep and readiness data will be collected daily using an Oura Ring wearable device. Assessments occur prior to treatment, weekly during the study, and at a 3-week follow-up, measuring physical performance, recovery, fatigue, and behavioral state. The study aims to evaluate the overall utility of PBMT in enhancing SOF recovery and performance.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Photomedicine Project 14: PBMT for Performance Enhancement in SOF

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years - 45Years
MALE
Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Active-Duty Special Forces Personnel (18-series)
  • Able to read and understand English language for consent purposes
  • Able to commit to study intervention and follow-up
  • Able to participate in THOR3 coach-led training, without restriction
  • Male gender
  • Age between 18 and 45 years
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Obese (body fat > 25%)
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Use of select medications (e.g., statins, diuretics, hypertensive agents)
  • Female gender
  • Tattoo in treatment area (body region)
  • Diagnosis with porphyria or photosensitive eczema
  • Current use of medications associated with sensitivity to heat or light (e.g., amiodarone, chlorpromazine, doxycycline, hydrochlorothiazide, nalidixic acid, naproxen, piroxicam, tetracycline, thioridazine, voriconazole)
  • Use of pacemaker or underlying cardiac disease
  • Diagnosed with autoimmune disease(s)
  • Albinism
  • Peripheral neuropathy

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Implementation

Duration - 3 weeks

Participants receive photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) or sham PBMT applied to the quadriceps area by a trained study team member, 3 times per week for 3 weeks.

3 visits per week for 3 weeks (in-person)

Follow-up

Duration - Up to 3 weeks after treatment

Participants are assessed on performance, recovery, and behavioral state including strength tests and self-reported measures after completing the 3-week PBMT or sham PBMT treatment.

1 follow-up visit at 3 weeks (in-person) plus daily self-reports and continuous wearable device data collection during the study period

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, United States, 98433

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

B

Bradley H Cornell, DPT

N

Nicholas R Hughes, DPT

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

SINGLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

2

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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24942380

Pre-Exercise Infrared Low-Level Laser Therapy (810 nm) in Skeletal Muscle Performance and Postexercise Recovery in Humans, What Is the Optimal Dose? A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Adriane Aver Vanin, Thiago De Marchi, S S Tomazoni...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27575834

Low level laser therapy before eccentric exercise reduces muscle damage markers in humans.

Bruno Manfredini Baroni, Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal Junior, Thiago De Marchi...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20602109

Effects of low-level laser therapy (808 nm) on isokinetic muscle performance of young women submitted to endurance training: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Wouber Hérickson de Brito Vieira, Cleber Ferraresi, Sérgio Eduardo de Andrade Perez...

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Photobiomodulation by light emitting diode applied sequentially does not alter performance in cycling athletes.

Gabriela de Carvalho, Aline Gobbi, Ronaldo Bucken Gobbi...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32078062

Photobiomodulation therapy before futsal matches improves the staying time of athletes in the court and accelerates post-exercise recovery.

Thiago De Marchi, Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior, Kalvin Comin Lando...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30264178

Pre-Exercise Infrared Photobiomodulation Therapy (810 nm) in Skeletal Muscle Performance and Postexercise Recovery in Humans: What Is the Optimal Power Output?

Adriano Rodrigues de Oliveira, Adriane Aver Vanin, Shaiane Silva Tomazoni...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29099680

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and/or cryotherapy in skeletal muscle restitution, what is better? A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Paulo Roberto Vicente de Paiva, Shaiane Silva Tomazoni, Douglas Scott Johnson...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27624781