The effect of gaalas diode laser on pre-sports warming up and post-sports cooling down

Low reactive level laser therapy (LLLT) involving low incident levels of laser light, is known for its normalizing effect on abnormalities of living bodies. A joint study by Keio University Institute of Physical Education, Japan Medical Laser Laboratory and the Ohshiro Clinic was conducted to investigate the application of the GaAlAs diode laser in the field of sports medicine during pretraining or pre-competition warm up and post-training cooling down. The ‘Sit and Reach’ test, blood oxygenation and pulse rates were measured in 17 athletes, 15 males and 2 females, before laser irradiation (A), after the first laser irradiation (B), after physical exertion (C) and after a second laser irradiation (D). The Oh-Lase HT 2001 semi-conductor laser was applied to the neck while the subject adopted a sitting position on the floor with the legs stretched forward. The subjects were requested to stretch (toe-touch) as far as possible followed by another 8 seconds of laser irradiation while the subjects were stretched and were measured for maximum stretching distance. The procedure was repeated. When statistical significance was evaluated there were significant changes between A and B, A and C, A and D, B and D, and C and D in the performance of the Sit and Reach Test, whereas significant differences in heart rate were seen between A and C, B and C, B and D, and C and D, and significant differences between A and B, A and D, B and C, and C and D in the blood oxygen saturation level. The results where significant differences between A and B, and C and D imply that the use of the GaAlAs laser during warm up and cool down is beneficial.