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Transcranial Photobiomodulation in Sports Medicine: Enhancing Athletic Performance and Injury Prevention
Milad Iravani1, Maryam Moghaddam Salimi2, Ali Jahan3
1Department of Neuroscience and Cognition, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery
|March 12, 2026
Summary
Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) shows promise for enhancing athletic performance and aiding recovery. However, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness in injury mitigation, especially for traumatic brain injuries.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Athletic performance and injury recovery are crucial in sports.
- Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) is a noninvasive therapy using red and near-infrared light.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of tPBM on athletic performance and injury recovery.
- To synthesize evidence from human and animal studies.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
- Synthesis of 7 human and animal studies.
Main Results:
- tPBM demonstrates preliminary evidence for improving motor function, cognitive performance, and muscle strength.
- tPBM may reduce neuroinflammation and aid neurological recovery.
- Evidence for injury mitigation, particularly TBI, is limited and requires further investigation.
Conclusions:
- tPBM shows potential as a complementary therapy in sports medicine.
- Further rigorous trials with standardized protocols and larger sample sizes are necessary.
- Future research should focus on elite athletes and specific performance outcomes.
