Abstract / Summary
Abstract Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of 5 consecutive days of transcranial photobiomodulation (TPBM), or sham TPBM (TPBM-sham), or cranial manual therapy (CMT) on anxiety levels, sleep quality, and postural control in young women. Methods This randomized clinical trial included young women allocated to three groups: TPBM ( n = 15), TPBM-sham ( n = 15), and CMT ( n = 15). The TPBM intervention was delivered using a helmet equipped with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting wavelengths of 660 and 850 nm, 7.5 and 23 mW, energy densities of 33.75 and 103.5 J/cm², and irradiances of 33.5 and 115 mW/cm², respectively. Anxiety was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and postural control by analyzing center-of-pressure displacement during a semi-static single-leg stance on a force platform. Assessments were performed before and immediately after five consecutive days of intervention. Statistical analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat principle using one-way analysis of variance and generalized estimating equations. Results No significant between-group differences were observed for anxiety ( p = 0.516), sleep quality ( p = 0.225), or postural control ( p = 0.995). However, reductions in anxiety scores were observed across all groups. In the within-group analysis, the TPBM-sham group demonstrated improvements in both sleep quality and postural control. Conclusion TPBM and CMT did not produce superior acute effects compared with sham treatment on anxiety, sleep quality, or postural control in young women. Furthermore, the findings highlight the potential influence of placebo effects and structured rest on reducing anxiety symptoms.