Phototherapy for Improvement of Performance and Exercise Recovery: Comparison of 3 Commercially Available Devices.

Context:   Recent studies suggest the prophylactic use of low-powered laser/light has ergogenic effects on athletic performance and postactivity recovery. Manufacturers of high-powered lasers/light devices claim that these can produce the same clinical benefits with increased power and decreased irradiation time; however, research with high-powered lasers is lacking.

Objective:   To evaluate the magnitude of observed phototherapeutic effects with 3 commercially available devices.