Effects of the association of different volumes of strength training with photobiomodulation therapy on insulin resistance: A protocol for a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Pedro Paulo Ribeiro Ferreira; Luís Filipe Rocha Silva; Marco Fabrício Dias-Peixoto; Ricardo Cardoso Cassilhas; Fernando Gripp; Fabiano Trigueiro Amorim; Zachary A Mang; Elizabethe Adriana Esteves; Valmor A Tricoli; Cleber Ferraresi; Flávio de Castro Magalhães

doi:10.1016/j.conctc.2022.100984

Effects of the association of different volumes of strength training with photobiomodulation therapy on insulin resistance: A protocol for a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2022 Aug 17:29:100984. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2022.100984. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Campus JK, Diamantina, MG, Brazil.
² Department of Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
³ Department of Nutrition, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Campus JK, Diamantina, MG, Brazil.
⁴ School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁵ Deparment of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is the main risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Both strength training (ST) and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt) reduce IR, but the effect of combining different volumes of ST with PBMt is unknown.

Methods: Overweight/obese individuals will be assigned to 4 groups (n = 12/group): ST with volume following international guidelines (3 sets per exercise - high volume) or one-third of this volume (1 set per exercise - low volume), combined with PBMt or placebo. ST will be performed for 20 sessions over 10 weeks and will consist of 7 exercises. The PBMt will be applied after training sessions using blankets with light emitters (LEDs) placed over the skin on the frontal and the posterior region of the body, following the parameters recommended by the literature. The placebo group will undergo an identical procedure, but blankets will emit insignificant light. To measure plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) will be performed before and after the training period. Thereafter, IR, the area under the curve of glucose and insulin, and OGTT-derived indices of insulin sensitivity/resistance will be calculated.

Expected impact on the field: This study will determine the effects of different ST volumes on IR and whether the addition of PBMt potentiates the effects of ST. Because previously sedentary, obese, insulin-resistant individuals might not comply with recommended volumes of exercise, the possibility that adding PBMt to low-volume ST enhances ST effects on IR bears practical significance.

Keywords: Insulin sensitivity; Light therapy; Resistance training; Type 2 diabetes.