BACKGROUND DATA: Technology and physical exercise can enhance physical performance during aging. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of infrared-light-emitting diode (LED) illumination (850 nm) applied during treadmill training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty postmenopausal women participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups. The LED group performed treadmill training associated with infrared-LED illumination (n = 10) and the control group performed only treadmill training (n = 10). The training was performed during 3 months, twice a week during 30 min at intensities between 85 and 90% of maximal heart rate. The irradiation parameters were 31 mW/cm2, treatment time 30 min, 14,400 J of total energy and 55.8 J/cm2 of fluence. Physiological, biomechanical, and body composition parameters were measured at the baseline and after 3 months. RESULTS: Both groups improved the time of tolerance limit (Tlim) (p < 0.05) during submaximal constant-speed testing. The peak torque did not differ between groups. However, the results showed significantly higher values of power (from 56 +/- 10 to 73 +/- 8 W (p = 0.002)) and total work (from 1,537 +/- 295 to 1,760 +/- 262 J (p = 0.006)) for the LED group when compared to the control group (power: from 58 +/- 14 to 60 +/- 15 W (p >= 0.05) and total work: from 1,504 +/- 404 to 1,622 +/- 418 J (p >= 0.05)). The fatigue significantly increased for the control group (from 51 +/- 6 to 58 +/- 5% (p = 0.04)), but not for the LED group (from 60 +/- 10 to 60 +/- 4% (p >= 0.05)). No significant differences in body composition were observed for either group. CONCLUSIONS: Infrared-LED illumination associated with treadmill training can improve muscle power and delay leg fatigue in postmenopausal women.

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