Low-Level Laser Therapy/Photobiomodulation therapy is a non-invasive treatment which uses near-infrared light produced medical grade non-thermal lasers to improve soft tissue healing, reduce inflammation and provide relief for both acute and chronic pain.

The effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy are photochemical, interacting directly with local cells. When an appropriate dose and treatment time is used, red and near infrared light increases both ATP production (cell energy) and local blood circulation. This improves local cell metabolism and reduces inflammation.

What Is Low-Level Laser Therapy?

What are the benefits?

Low-level laser therapy has been shown to promote healing across a wide range of injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. Some of the following benefits are listed below:

  • Relief from acute and chronic pain

  • Improved localized blood & lymphatic circulation

  • Increased local cell metabolism

  • Reduced localized inflammation and swelling

  • Stimulates nerve tissue function & repair

  • Promotes collagen and muscle tissue repair

References

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2. Alfredo PP, Bjordal JM, Dreyer SH, Meneses SR, Zaguetti G, Ovanessian V, Fukuda TY, Junior WS, Martins RA, Casarotto RA, Marques AP. Efficacy of low level laser therapy associated with exercises in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind study. ClinRehabil. 2012 Jun;26(6):523-33.

3. Alves AN, Fernandes KP, Deana AM, Bussadori SK, Mesquita-Ferrari RA. Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Skeletal Muscle Repair: A Systematic Review. Am J Phys MedRehabil. 2014 Dec;93(12):1073-85.

4. Anders JJ, Moges H, Wu X, Erbele ID, Alberico SL, Saidu EK, Smith JT, Pryor BA. In vitro and in vivo optimization of infrared laser treatment for injured peripheral nerves. Lasers Surg Med. 2014 Jan;46(1):34-45. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22212. Epub 2013 Dec 11. PMID: 24338500.

5. Borsa et al., (2019), Muscular Preconditioning using Phototherapy Improves the Physical Work Capacity of the Quadriceps when applied between Repeated bouts of resistance Exercise; J Athl Enhanc, 7:6 Bjordal JM, Lopes-Martins RA, Joensen J, Iversen VV. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of low level laser therapy and its relevance for clinical use in physiotherapy. Physical Therapy Reviews 2010;15(4):286-293.

6. Chow RT, Johnson MI, Lopes-Martins RA, Bjordal JM. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo or activetreatment controlled trials. The Lancet, Volume 374, No. 9705, pp. 1897-908.

7. Chow R, Armati P, Laakso EL, Bjordal JM, Baxter GD. Inhibitory effects of laser Irradiation on peripheral mammalian nerves and relevance to analgesic effects: A Systematic Review. Photomed. Laser Surg.2010;29:365- 381.

8. de Andrade AL, Bossini PS, Parizotto NA. Use of low level laser therapy to control neuropathic pain: A systematic review. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2016 Nov;164:36-42.

9. Dundar U, Turkmen U, Toktas H, Solak O, Ulasli AM. Effect of high-intensity laser therapy in the management of myofascial pain syndrome of the trapezius: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Lasers Med Sci. 2015 Jan;30(1):325-32

10. Gao X, Xing D. Molecular mechanisms of cell proliferation induced by low power laser irradiation. J Biomed Sci. 2009; 16(1): 4.

11. Kaydok E, Ordahan B, Solum S, Karahan AY. Short-term Efficacy Comparison of High- intensity and Low-intensity Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis: A Randomized Double-blind Clinical Study. Arch Rheumatol. 2019 Apr 24;35(1):60-67.

12. Kazem Shakouri S, Soleimanpour J, Salekzamani Y, Oskuie MR. Effect of low-level laser therapy on the fracture healing process. Lasers Med Sci. 2010 Jan;25(1):73-7.

13. Kobiela Ketz A, Byrnes KR, Grunberg NE, Kasper CE, Osborne L, Pryor B, Tosini NL, Wu X, Anders JJ. Characterization of Macrophage/Microglial Activation and Effect of Photobiomodulation in the Spared Nerve Injury Model of Neuropathic Pain. Pain Med. 2017 May 1;18(5):932-946. doi:10.1093/pm/pnw144. PMID: 27497321.

14. Martin R. Laser-Accelerated Inflammation/Pain Reduction and Healing. Practical Pain Management. Nov/Dec 2003 3(6):20-25.

15. Ren H, Liu J, Liu Y, Yu C, Bao G, Kang H. Comparative effectiveness of low-level laser therapy with different wavelengths and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in the treatment of pain caused by temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Oral Rehabil. 2021 Jul 21

16. Sakata S, Kunimatsu R, Tsuka Y, Nakatani A, Gunji H, Yanoshita M, Kado I, Ito S, Putranti NAR, Prasetya RC, Hirose N, Tanimoto K. High-frequency near-infrared diode laser irradiation suppresses IL-1β-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and NF-κB signaling pathways in human primary chondrocytes. Lasers Med Sci. 2021 Aug 7

17. Tumilty S, Munn J, McDonough S, Hurley DA, Basford JR, Baxter GD. Low level laser treatment of tendinopathy: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Photomed Laser Surg. 2010 Feb;28(1):3-16.

18. Tumilty S, Mani R, Baxter GD. Photobiomodulation and eccentric exercise for Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial. Lasers Med Sci. 2016 Jan;31(1):127-35

19. Zaki Z, Ravanbod R, Schmitz M, Abbasi K. Comparison of low level and high power laser combined with kinesiology taping on shoulder function and musculoskeletal sonography parameters in subacromial impingement syndrome: a Randomized placebo-controlled trial. Physiother Theory Pract. 2021 Jun 29:1-12.