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Background: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is defined as non-thermal electromagnetic irradiation through laser or light-emitting diode sources. In recent decades, PBMT has attracted attention as a potential preconditioning method. The current meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of PBMT in improving mode-specific exercise performance in healthy young adults. Methods: A computerized literature search was conducted, ending on 15 May 2022. The databases searched were PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database. Inclusion/exclusion criteria limited articles to crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies investigating the PBMT effects as a preconditioning method. The included trials were synthesized according to exercise mode (single-joint, cycling, running, and swimming). All results were combined using the standardized mean differences (SMDs) method and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were described. Results: A total of 37 individual studies, employing 78 exercise performance measurements in 586 participants, were included in the analyses. In single-joint exercises, PBMT improved muscle endurance performance (SMD 0.27, 95% CI 0.12–0.41; p < 0.01) but not muscle strength performance (p = 0.92). In cycling, PBMT improved time to exhaustion performance (SMD 0.35, 95% CI 0.10–0.59; p < 0.01) but had no effect on all-out sprint performance (p = 0.96). Similarly, PBMT had no effect on time to exhaustion (p = 0.10), time-trial (p = 0.61), or repeated-sprint (p = 0.37) performance in running and no effect on time-trial performance in swimming (p = 0.81). Conclusion: PBMT improves muscle endurance performance in single-joint exercises and time to exhaustion performance in cycling but is not effective for muscle strength performance in single-joint exercises, running, or swimming performance metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cold-water immersion (CWI) is one of the main recovery methods used in sports, and is commonly utilized as a means to expedite the recovery of performance during periods of exercise training. In recent decades, there have been indications that regular CWI use is potentially harmful to resistance training adaptations, and, conversely, potentially beneficial to endurance training adaptations. The current meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of the regular CWI use during exercise training on resistance (i.e., strength) and endurance (i.e., aerobic exercise) performance alterations. Methods: A computerized literature search was conducted, ending on November 25, 2019. The databases searched were MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SPORTDiscus. The selected studies investigated the effects of chronic CWI interventions associated with resistance and endurance training sessions on exercise performance improvements. The criteria for inclusion of studies were: (1) being a controlled investigation; (2) conducted with humans; (3) CWI performed at ≤ 15 °C; (4) being associated with a regular training program; and (5) having performed baseline and post-training assessments. Results: Eight articles were included before the review process. A harmful effect of CWI associated with resistance training was verified for one-repetition maximum, maximum isometric strength, and strength endurance performance (overall standardized mean difference [SMD] = − 0.60; Confidence interval of 95% [CI95%] = − 0.87, − 0.33; p < 0.0001), as well as for Ballistic efforts performance (overall SMD = − 0.61; CI95% = − 1.11, − 0.11; p = 0.02). On the other hand, selected studies verified no effect of CWI associated with endurance training on time-trial (mean power), maximal aerobic power in graded exercise test performance (overall SMD = − 0.07; CI95% = − 0.54, 0.53; p = 0.71), or time-trial performance (duration) (overall SMD = 0.00; CI95% = − 0.58, 0.58; p = 1.00). Conclusions: The regular use of CWI associated with exercise programs has a deleterious effect on resistance training adaptations but does not appear to affect aerobic exercise performance. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42018098898. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of regular participation in recreational table tennis training on bone health, body composition and lipid profile of elderly men. 20 regular recreational table tennis players (11.6 ± 3.6 years of experience) and 20 sedentary older adults (age, mass and sex matched of 65-75 years) participated in the study. Serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were determined after 12 h fasting. Body composition was analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Regular recreational table tennis participants displayed higher HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.03) and lower LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.04) and triglycerides (p = 0.002) compared to sedentary participants. In the regular recreational table tennis participants compared with sedentary participants, total (p = 0.001), sub-regional [lumbar spines (p = 0.001), arm (p = 0.006), leg (p < 0.008)] and site-specific [femoral neck (p = 0.007), trochanter (p = 0.03), and ward’s triangle (p = 0.001)] bone mineral densities were higher. Body fat percentage (p = 0.04) and total and sub-regional fat mass [arm (p = 0.004), leg (p = 0.02), and trunk (p = 0.04)] were lower. There was no significant difference in the total and sub-regional lean mass between groups (p > 0.05). This study offers preliminary evidence to suggest that recreational table tennis training, with the potential for permanent implementation, is associated with beneficial effects on body composition and lipid profile in older adult men. Further research regarding recreational table tennis to be used as a health-promoting activity for older adults is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of prior LED sessions on the responses of cardiorespiratory parameters during the running incremental step test. Twenty-six healthy, physically active, young men, aged between 20 and 30 years, took part in this study. Participants performed two incremental load tests after placebo (PLA) and light-emitting diode application (LED), and had their gas exchange, heart rate (HR), blood lactate, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) monitored during all tests. The PLA and LED conditions were compared using the dependent Student t test with significance set at 5%. The T test showed higher maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) (PLA = 47.2 ± 5.7; LED = 48.0 ± 5.4 ml kg-1 min-1, trivial effect size), peak velocity (Vpeak) (PLA = 13.4 ± 1.2; LED = 13.6 ± 1.2 km h-1, trivial effect size), and lower maximum HR (PLA = 195.3 ± 3.4; LED = 193.3 ± 3.9 b min-1, moderate effect size) for LED compared to PLA conditions. Furthermore, submaximal values of HR and RPE were lower, and submaximal VO2 values were higher when LED sessions prior to the incremental step test were applied. A positive response of the previous LED application in the blood lactate disappearance was also demonstrated, especially 13 and 15 min after the test. It is concluded that LED sessions prior to exercise modify cardiorespiratory response by affecting running tolerance during the incremental step test, metabolite clearance, and RPE. Therefore, LED could be used as a prior exercise strategy to modulate oxidative response acutely in targeted muscle and enhance exercise tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]