BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation (PBM), has been shown to improve muscular performance during single-joint resistance exercises. It is unclear whether this benefit extends to multiple-joint exercises, such as the barbell bench press. METHODS: In a within-group design, 15 collegiate athletes (mean±SD
age 20.2±1.6 yrs
BMI 26.0±4.5 kg RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between PBM and sham conditions for bench press 1RM or soreness (P≥0.05). VL was greater in both PBM and sham conditions compared to baseline (P≤0.05). VL was not significantly different between PBM and sham. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that muscular performance during multi-joint resistance exercises such as the bench press may not benefit from PBM in the same fashion as single-joint resistance exercises.