Author Archives: James Carroll

About James Carroll

Founder and CEO at THOR Photomedicine Ltd. About THOR

LLLT in the Lancet Top 20 Hit Parade

The paper by Roberta Chow, Mark Johnson, Rodrigo Lopes-Martins, Jan M Bjordal titled “Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo or active-treatment controlled trials” (abstract here) reached number 17 in The Lancet top 20 most downloaded papers for 2010. The full top 20 list is here:

Posted in Industry | on LLLT in the Lancet Top 20 Hit Parade

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Literature Watch for July 2010

30 abstracts for you to review including: LLLT before eccentric exercise reduces muscle damage, LLLT reduces limb volume, increases shoulder mobility and grip strength in patients with postmastectomy lymphedema, and a case report on LLLT for ’extrusive luxation” (traumatic displaced teeth).

Low level laser therapy before eccentric exercise reduces muscle damage markers in humans.

Baroni BM, Leal Junior EC, De Marchi T, Lopes AL, Salvador M, Vaz MA

Exercise Research Laboratory (LAPEX), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Felizardo, 750-Bairro Jardim Botanico, Porto Alegre, RS, 90690-200, Brazil, bmbaroni@yahoo.com.br.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of low level laser therapy (LLLT) treatment before knee extensor eccentric exercise on indirect markers of muscle damage. Thirty-six healthy men were randomized in LLLT group (n = 18) and placebo group (n = 18). After LLLT or placebo treatment, subjects performed 75 maximal knee extensors eccentric contractions (five sets of 15 repetitions; velocity = 60 degrees seg(-1); range of motion = 60 degrees ). Muscle soreness (visual analogue … Continue reading

Posted in Research | on Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Literature Watch for July 2010

International Association for Study of Pain finds “strong evidence” for LLLT

A guidance document on myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) published on the International Association for Study of Pain web site finds “strong evidence” for Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). We have archived a copy here and you can find the original source here . Myofascial pain syndrome is often confused with fibromyalgia so it may be worth reading this blog to help understand the difference.

Posted in Research | on International Association for Study of Pain finds “strong evidence” for LLLT

BMJ systematic review finds “strong evidence” for LLLT on Frozen Shoulder

The BMJ sports medicine journal (BJSM) published a systematic review of conservative and surgical interventions and found “strong evidence for the effectiveness of laser therapy” adding to the rapidly expanding list of authoritative journals endorsing LLLT.

Br J Sports Med. 2010 Jul 20

Frozen shoulder: the effectiveness of conservative and surgical interventions–systematic review.

Favejee MM, Huisstede BM, Koes BW.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Background A variety of therapeutic interventions is available for restoring motion and diminishing pain in patients with frozen shoulder. An overview article concerning the evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions is lacking. Objective To provide an evidence-based overview regarding the effectiveness of conservative and surgical interventions to treat the frozen shoulder. Methods The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Cinahl and Pedro were searched for relevant systematic reviews and randomised clinical trials (RCTs). Two reviewers independently selected relevant studies, assessed the methodological quality and extracted data. A best-evidence synthesis was used to summarise the results. Results Five Cochrane reviews and 18 RCTs … Continue reading

Posted in Research | 1 Comment

APTA recommends LLLT for Achilles Tendinopathies

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Clinical Guidelines recommend Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for Achilles tendinopathies. The report says “Clinicians should consider the use of low level laser therapy to decrease pain and stiffness in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.” Hooray, it’s only been 20 years since Chukuka Enwemeka first published his tendinopathy research. It is unfortunate that the guidelines neglected to comment on the importance of treatment parameters, they incorrectly describe energy as “intensity” and failed to mention Tumilty’s systematic review which found that 55% of LLLT tendinopathy studies failed due to incorrect power density and / or energy delivered.

You can download the APTA paper here APTA-Achilles-Tendinopathy-Guideline-USA-2010.pdf

GET TRAINED

Understanding power density and energy is important for effective treatment. To get yourself trained click here https://www.thorlaser.com/courses

Posted in Books and Journals, Industry | on APTA recommends LLLT for Achilles Tendinopathies

SPIE Abstract deadline 12 July 2010

Next January 2011 in San Francisco we will have the sixth annual conference on “Mechanisms for low light therapy VI”  . The meeting this year in San Francisco was highly successful and next year’s will continue the tradition I am therefore pleased to be able to invite you to submit an abstract (Deadline 12 July 2010) and a conference proceedings paper (Deadline 15 Dec 2010) to “Mechanisms for low light therapy VI” Conference BO108 Part of SPIE’s International Symposium on Biomedical Optics (BiOS) 22 – 27 January 2011 at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, California, USA. BO108 is expected to be held on Sat Jan 22.

Submit your abstract here http://spie.org/bo108

submit your abstract here
http://spie.org/bo108

Michael R Hamblin Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Dermatology

Harvard Medical School

BAR 414

Wellman Center for Photomedicine

Posted in Conference | on SPIE Abstract deadline 12 July 2010

LLLT Literature Watch for May 2010

34 new LLLT papers for your to review including LED nerve regeneration, post-mastectomy lymphedema, healing of mucous membrane pemphigoid, biceps muscle performance and LED attenuation of oxidative renal damage in Type I diabetic rats.

P.S. when did you last get trained?

  • How much LLLT is enough, how much is to much?
  • What are joules and J/cm2?
  • Do they matter ?
  • What is the difference between laser and LED?

Attend a THOR training to find out. Details here https://www.thorlaser.com/courses/

Low Level Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid: A Promising Procedure.

Yilmaz HG, Kusakci Seker B, Bayindir H, Tozum TF

Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Near East University, Mersin10, Turkey.

Background: Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a heterogeneous group of autoimmune, subepithelial blistering diseases. A combination of both topical and systemic steroid treatment is often used when managing patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid. The use of systemic steroids presents an increased risk of adverse side effects. Consequently, effective alternative modalities of therapy should be considered, such … Continue reading

Posted in Research | on LLLT Literature Watch for May 2010