Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) when associated with treadmill training on the recovery of skeletal muscle, during two periods of rest after muscle injury in rats. Background data: Because of photostimulation, LLLT has been presented as an alternative for accelerating the tissue healing process. Materials and methods: Forty rats were divided into two groups (A and B) containing four subgroups each: GC (Control Group)-cryolesion untreated; EG (Exercise Group)-cryolesion treated with physical exercise; LG (Laser Group)-cryolesion treated with laser; ELG (Exercise and Laser Group)-cryolesion treated with laser and physical exercise. The right tibialis anterior (TA) of the middle belly was injured by a cooling iron bar (cryoinjury). Group A remained at rest for 3 days, whereas Group B remained at rest for 7 days. The laser parameters utilized were 780 nm with 15 mW average optical power and spot size of 0.04 cm 2 applied during 10 sec, leading to 0.152 J and 3.8 J/cm 2 . Treadmill training with and without laser application was performed during 5 days, with each session lasting for 12 min at a velocity of 17 m/min. Subsequently, the TA muscle was removed for a histological and morphometric analysis. Results: The damaged area was significantly smaller for the ELG at both periods of rest, 3 and 7 days, respectively (4.4 -0.42% and 3.5 -0.14%, p < 0.05), when compared with the LG (18.6 -0.64% and 7.5 -0.13%), the EG (21 -0.26% and 8.7 -0.32%), and the CG (23.9 -0.37% and 21.4 -0.38%). In addition, the number of blood vessels were significantly higher for the ELG at both periods of rest, 3 and 7 days, respectively (71.2 -13.51 and 104.5 -11.78, p < 0.05), when compared with the LG (60.6 -11.25 and 93.5 -16.87), the EG (51.6 -7.3 and 93.8 -15.1) and the CG (34.4 -2.54 and 65.7 -14.1). Conclusions: The LLLT applied before the physical exercise on the treadmill stimulated the angiogenesis and accelerated the process of muscle recovery.
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