EFFECT OF PHOTOBIOMODULATION ON HEART RATE VARIABILITY AND INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY OF INDIVIDUALS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Abstract

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by a set of non-progressive but mutable disorders, caused by an immature brain lesion and accompanied by imbalances in the sympathetic-vagal balance, with lower heart rate variability (HRV) when compared to individuals with typical development. Infrared thermography (IRT) is able to observe sympathetic activity through skin temperature remotely and non-invasively. Photobiomodulation therapy (BMT) has shown promising effects on modulation responses to autonomic variables. Objective: To verify the effect of BMT-MBT on autonomic variables in individuals with CP. Methods: Eight children and adolescents (8.75 ± 1.67 years of age) with CP were included in the study and randomized into the TFBM (GFBM [n = 5]) and placebo (RG [n = 3]) groups. The intervention consisted of 12 sessions, twice a week, with application of the TFBM in the GFBM in seven regions of each lower limb (cluster 850 nm, 3,276 J, 3 J/cm²) and simulation of application in the SG. The Polar device (RS800CX) was used to record the R-R intervals and the FLIR E8 WI-FI (FLIR® Systems, Inc.) thermal imaging camera, with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, was used for the TIV. Statistical analysis was performed using the Bonferroni post-hoc repeated measures ANOVA test, and the significance level adopted was p < 0.05. Results: A significant difference was observed in post-intervention status for iRR (p = 0.035), pNN50 (p = 0.047), and heart rate (p = 0.018). The iRR and pNN50 data are parasympathetic markers and showed increased values for post-time in the GFBM. For heart rate, an indicator of sympathetic behavior, there was a decrease in GFBM. Although the IVT did not present a statistically significant difference, there was an increase in facial temperature and a decrease in peripheral temperature in the GFBM, suggesting a reduction in the stress condition. Conclusion: The TFBM showed promising results of greater influence of the parasympathetic nervous system and modulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which can promote better health conditions.