Whole-body photobiomodulation (PBM) emitted by LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) has been applied for sports performance. However, there are no studies with the use of whole-body PBM in trained and healthy individuals with performance evaluation in an agility test (Illinois Agility Test).

To evaluate the effects of whole-body PBM on the performance of trained and healthy individuals through the agility test.

Randomized, double-blind, crossover and placebo-controlled clinical trial with 10 young (22.60±3.27 years) trained (33.6±7 months of resistance training) and healthy (25. 42±2.13 kg/m²), randomly allocated into two crossed arms: effective PBM (13.85J/cm²; 46.17mW/cm²) and placebo PBM (0J; 0mW), applied according to randomization. Participants received both treatments, with a 7-day washout between each therapy. The effective PBM was applied for 10 minutes, respecting a time of 6 hours and 5 minutes before the assessment of the agility test (2 sessions of irradiation). The agility test was performed according to its validation, which consisted of an area of 4 external cones (9.2 m long and 3.6 m wide) and 4 internal cones (3.1 m apart). Before starting the official test, a familiarization was performed (2 attempts). Thus, the participants were instructed to perform 3 maximum running attempts (180 seconds of rest between them) running from the starting line (1st cone to 2nd cone - 9.2 m), deviating from 4 central cones (twice) and a distance of 9.2 m to the finish line. The evaluations were carried out in three moments [baseline (BL) – 1st day; Effective PBM or placebo, according to randomization at the time of 24h-post BL; and after 7 days of washout]. The evaluations were standardized in the same period of the day and place of the BL. Data were analyzed for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. For comparison purposes, the paired t test, mean, standard deviation and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used, considering a significance level of 5%.

On average, there was no significant difference (p=0.963) between effective PBM [0.01±0.73; t(9) = -0.048, 95% CI -0.53 to 0.51] and placebo PBM. The time in seconds was lower in effective PBM [0.37±0.43; t(9) = 2.753, p=0.022, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.69] compared to BL. There was no significant difference for placebo PBM [0.36±0.55; t(9) = 2.095, p=0.066, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.76] compared to BL.

Whole-body PBM was not able to increase agility test performance (Illinois Agility Test) in trained and healthy individuals. However, is a preliminary study, there is a need for a larger sample size (n=40, calculated by paired t-test, two-tailed, considering a mean effect of 0.5, α of 5% and statistical power=80%) to clarify the results.

Although the findings do not confirm the hypothesis, it is necessary to investigate the use of whole-body photobiomodulation in trained people to improve performance in agility tests, as it is an innovative resource that could benefit the sports and/or clinical environment.