ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The current study (for which ethical approval was obtained) sought to assess the effect of low intensity monochromatic infrared therapy (LIMIRT) on experimentally induced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy volunteers were recruited (n = 24, 12M:12F) and randomly allocated under strict double blind conditions to one of three experimental groups (n = 8, 4M:4F): Control, Placebo, or Treatment (840 nm; 3.0 J cm(-2), pulse frequency 1 kHz). DOMS was induced in a standardised manner in the biceps brachii of the nondominant arm. Subjects attended on 5 consecutive days during which the degree of pain and functional impairment was assessed. RESULTS: Analysis of results by using nonparametric Freidman and Kruskal-Wallis H tests (with relevant post hoc tests) revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) between Control and LIMIRT treatment groups for pain and tenderness scores. Despite trends in favour of the Treatment group, analysis failed to show any significant differences between the LIMIRT treatment and Placebo groups for all variables except mechanical pain threshold points 3-6 on day 2. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study suggest that LIMIRT is ineffective in the management of DOMS at the parameters investigated.
