Category Archives: Research

Kevin was a husband, father, anaesthetist, chronic pain specialist, researcher, a fun, kind and generous man.

He was a vital founding member of the World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) and a long-standing cheerleader for Photobiomodulation (PBM) as it is now known.

As well as being Consultant Anaesthetist at The Royal Oldham Hospital UK, Kevin was medical director at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

Kevin also had the thankless task of being the WALT treasurer for many years. His leadership and steady hand ensured the organisation survived several problematic periods.

All who met him will remember his warmth, humour and generosity of spirit. 

He will be forever memorialised in my LLLT/PBM presentations as he researched and published two of my favourite PBM papers of all time (abstracts below and links to some PDFs).

… Continue reading →

36 Photobiomodulation therapy papers published in February 2018. Highlights include:

• DNA repair mechanisms, modulation of telomere maintenance
• Improved motor response in patients with spinal cord injury
• Prevention of < grade 2 radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients (RCT)
• No adverse effects on SCC primary cancer, recurrence or survival
• Improved physiological and performance parameters in runners
• Improved depth of anaesthesia during endodontic treatment

27 Photobiomodulation therapy papers published in January 2018. Highlights include:

• Treatment 6h before + immediately before exercise best for reducing muscle fatigue
• Review of pre-clinical data for dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, trauma and depression
• Improved bacteriological, cytological and clinical benefits after root planing (RCT)
• Improved wound healing of skin graft donor site (RCT)
• Systematic review of RCTs on LED PBM therapy in dermatology
• NSAIDs vs PBM Therapy post root canal (RCT)
• ESWT vs PBM Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis (RCT)
• Effect of PBM on cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism are not thermal

Abstract source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=28192789

Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians.

Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA, Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians

From the American College of Physicians and Penn Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

DESCRIPTION: The American College of Physicians (ACP) developed this guideline to present the evidence and provide clinical recommendations on noninvasive treatment of low back pain. Methods: Using the ACP grading system, the committee based these recommendations on a systematic review of randomized, controlled trials and systematic reviews published through April 2015 on noninvasive pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for low back pain. Updated searches were performed through November 2016. Clinical outcomes evaluated included reduction or elimination of low back pain, improvement in back-specific and overall function, improvement in health-related quality of life, reduction in work disability and return to work, global improvement, number of back pain episodes or time between … Continue reading →