Infrared Laser and Classical Ballerinas' Feet

Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effects of the Infrared Laser on Classical Ballerinas' Feet

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04489784
• Other study ID #: Ballet
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 1, 2018
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: July 2020
• Source: University of Sao Paulo
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Overuse injuries and painful symptoms in athletes and dancers (especially classical ballerinas) may lead to reduced functional performance. However, laser application may reduce pain and increase physical conditioning. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of infrared laser on classical ballerinas' feet. The hypothesis investigators was that the infrared laser would be able to reduce pain perception and enhance functional performance in ballerinas.

Description:

High risk of injuries and painful symptoms in athletes and dancers (especially classical ballerinas) may lead to reduced functional performance. The use of photobiomodulation may improve functional performance in ballerinas that are affected by foot pain. An aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) diode laser device was uded. Infrared laser (808 nm) was applied on ballerina's feet twice a week during three months. Thermography, algometry and unipodal static standing balance test were performed. There were pain relief and improvement of functional performance in ballerinas.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 8
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: March 1, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 18 Years to 25 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female adults who perform classical ballet training and feel pain in their foot

Exclusion Criteria:

• The occurrence of injuries in the last 6 months

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Pain

Intervention

Device:
• Infrared Laser
An aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) diode laser device (Twin laser, MMOptics, São Carlos, SP, Brazil) was used. The irradiation parameters were as follows: infrared laser (808 nm wavelength) with a spot area of 0.04 cm2, and an average optical power of 100 mW operated in a continuous mode during 1 minute per point, leading to an irradiance of 2,500 mW/cm2, energy of 6 J and fluence of 125 J/cm2 per point. The laser was applied on ballerina's feet twice a week during three months.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Brazil	Fernanda Rossi Paolillo	São Carlos	São Paulo

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Sao Paulo

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Brazil, 

References & Publications (4)

Adabbo M, Paolillo FR, Bossini PS, Rodrigues NC, Bagnato VS, Parizotto NA. Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy Applied Before Treadmill Training on Recovery of Injured Skeletal Muscle in Wistar Rats. Photomed Laser Surg. 2016 May;34(5):187-93. doi: 10.1089/pho.2015.4031. Epub 2016 Apr 8. — View Citation

Leal Junior EC, Lopes-Martins RA, Rossi RP, De Marchi T, Baroni BM, de Godoi V, Marcos RL, Ramos L, Bjordal JM. Effect of cluster multi-diode light emitting diode therapy (LEDT) on exercise-induced skeletal muscle fatigue and skeletal muscle recovery in humans. Lasers Surg Med. 2009 Oct;41(8):572-7. doi: 10.1002/lsm.20810. — View Citation

Paolillo FR, Paolillo AR, João JP, Frascá D, Duchêne M, João HA, Bagnato VS. Ultrasound plus low-level laser therapy for knee osteoarthritis rehabilitation: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Rheumatol Int. 2018 May;38(5):785-793. doi: 10.1007/s00296-018-4000-x. Epub 2018 Feb 26. — View Citation

Shah S. Determining a young dancer's readiness for dancing on pointe. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2009 Nov-Dec;8(6):295-9. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181c1ddf1. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Analysis of pain for feet by algometry	Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed with an electronic algometer. The pressure was applied and the ballerinas were instructed to ask to say "stop" when the sensation changed from pressure to pain. Three PPT measurements were performed to obtain an average.	3 months
Primary	Analysis of pain for feet by the visual analogue pain intensity scale	A continuous scale comprised of a horizontal line with 10 centimeters in length was used. All ballerinas were instructed to make a mark with a pen at any point on the line between 2 verbal descriptors, one for each symptom extreme ["No pain" (score=0) and "as bad as it could be" or "worst imaginable pain" (score=10)].	3 months
Secondary	Balance Test	Static Standing Balance Test was performed. Ballerinas were instructed to stand on one foot to a maximum of one minute. The time was measured in seconds.	3 months
Secondary	Thermal Analysis	Cutaneous temperatures of ballerina's feet were analyzed by thermography.	3 months