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Author Archives: James Carroll
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Kansas) LLLT coding update
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Kansas (BCBS) have updated their assessment of LLLT and it is still considered “experimental” despite referencing the “strong evidence” conclusions in systematic reviews published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and International Society for the Study of Pain (IASP). Then there is The Lancet Systematic Review on Neck pain and the MASCC “recommendation” statements, also brushed aside by BCBS.
How can this be when:
Posted in Rants
on Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Kansas) LLLT coding update
THOR Literature watch for February 2013 Low Level Laser Therapy / Cold Laser / Photobiomodulation PBM
20 new papers for you this month starting with a laser tissue penetration study (some wavelengths go deeper than others), Laser vs TENS for OA knee, laser acupuncture for TMJD, human sperm motility and laser vs LED for allergic rhinitis.
Posted in Research
on THOR Literature watch for February 2013 Low Level Laser Therapy / Cold Laser / Photobiomodulation PBM
Cougar treated with THOR Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) by exotic animal veterinarian Jenny Conrad
The picture below is of a cougar treated by exotic animal veterinarian Jenny Conrad. She reports that “Pirate had a seizure of unknown origin and fell off his perch. He’s not usually this approachable but he seemed to like his LLLT treatment and let us work on him for about an hour. He purred the whole time. He seems to be feeling better this afternoon”.
Posted in Special Feature, Veterinary
on Cougar treated with THOR Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) by exotic animal veterinarian Jenny Conrad
Lack of adherence to the laser dosage recommendations from the world association for laser therapy in achilles study.
A letter by Bjordal et al was published addressing the tendinopathy study published Tumilty et al. Entitled “Lack of adherence to the laser dosage recommendations from the world association for laser therapy in achilles study”, full text below.
Tumilty et al reported delivering 0.21J per point however the WALT recommended energy per point in Achilles’ tendinopathy is 2.7 to 4.0J, so the authors did not adhere to recommended parameters from WALT.
Tumilty et al disagree but provide and inadequate argument as to why they claim adherence. Yes the the power density good and the treatment time was good but the beam size was too small and consequently the energy was wrong.
This matter was acknowledged in their published paper but was buried in discussion section rather than being acknowledged in the abstract or materials and methods where they claimed adherence to the WALT guidelines.
Future systematic reviewers of LLLT for tendinopathies must be made aware that the claim that their trial adhered to WALT guidelines is false.
This paper will weaken the effect size … Continue reading
Posted in Rants
on Lack of adherence to the laser dosage recommendations from the world association for laser therapy in achilles study.
A new record for LLLT: THOR Literature watch for January 2013 Low Level Laser Therapy / Cold Laser / Photobiomodulation PBM
56 new abstracts in one month. This must be a record for new LLLT papers indexed by pubmed in a single month. These include a study on healthy humans showing that transcranial LLLT applied to the frontal cortex improves attention, memory and mood. There are three systematic reviews (TMJD, lateral epicondylitis & dentin hypersensitivity) and clinical trials on TMJD, allergic rhinitis, OA, oral mucositis, cartilage repair, three on orthodontic pain and several papers on primary / secondary reactions, downstream (cellular) effects and some in-vivo studies.
Transcranial infrared laser stimulation produces beneficial cognitive and emotional effects in humans.
Barrett DW, Gonzalez-Lima F
Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
This is the first controlled study demonstrating the beneficial effects of transcranial laser stimulation on cognitive and emotional functions in humans. Photobiomodulation with red to near-infrared light is a novel intervention shown to regulate neuronal function in cell cultures, animal models, and clinical conditions. Light that intersects … Continue reading
Posted in Research
on A new record for LLLT: THOR Literature watch for January 2013 Low Level Laser Therapy / Cold Laser / Photobiomodulation PBM
Mike Hamblin Harvard LLLT TBI video interview
LLLT for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) by Prof. Michael Hamblin, Wellman Centre for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School.
Posted in Interviews, THE FUTURE OF PBM/LLLT, Video of the Week
8 Comments
Low Level Laser Therapy LLLT / Cold Laser Literature watch for Sept – Dec 2012
73 papers for your review this time including LLLT clinical trials for temporomandibular joint disorder, pain associated with orthodontic separators, meniscal tears and a third molar extraction study. An interesting case history of a stroke patient treated with LLLT, the effect of red light on sleep, endurance and performance in basketball players. There are several systematic reviews of LLLT out, including reviews on onychomycosis, TMJD, orofacial pain, oral mucositis, lymphedema and orthodontic pain (not necessarily favourable). AND HOW ABOUT THIS : “Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) combined with swimming training improved the lipid profile in rats fed with high-fat diet” The authors conclude: “LLLT decreased the total cholesterol (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05), and relative mass of fat tissue (p < 0.05), suggesting increased metabolic activity and altered lipid pathways. The combination of exercise and LLLT increased the benefits of exercise alone. However, LLLT without exercise tended to increase body weight and fat content. LLLT may be a valuable addition to a regimen of diet and exercise for … Continue reading
Posted in Research
on Low Level Laser Therapy LLLT / Cold Laser Literature watch for Sept – Dec 2012