Category Archives: Research

A systematic review with procedural assessments and meta-analysis of low level laser therapy in lateral elbow tendinopathy (tennis elbow).

Bjordal JM, Lopes-Martins RA, Joensen J, Couppe C, Ljunggren AE, Stergioulas A, Johnson MI

Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bergen University College, Moellendalsvn, 6, 5009 Bergen, Norway.
BACKGROUND: Recent reviews have indicated that low level level laser therapy (LLLT) is ineffective in lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) without assessing validity of treatment procedures and doses or the influence of prior steroid injections. METHODS: Systematic review with meta-analysis, with primary outcome measures of pain relief and/or global improvement and subgroup analyses of methodological quality, wavelengths and treatment procedures. RESULTS: 18 randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) were identified with 13 RCTs (730 patients) meeting the criteria for meta-analysis. 12 RCTs satisfied half or more of the methodological criteria. Publication bias was detected by Egger’s graphical test, which showed a negative direction of bias. Ten of the trials included patients with poor prognosis caused by failed steroid injections or other treatment failures, or long symptom duration … Continue reading →

Cell signalling governs basic cellular activities and coordinates cell actions. Cells respond to their local microenvironment and these signals may prompt tissue repair or immune response as well as normal tissue homeostasis. Guenter Albrecht-Buehler has conducted a series of experiments on cells with near-infrared light (NIR) and reports on how cells might be communicating with pulsed NIR. He also demonstrates with video how cell motility responds to a pulsed light stimulus.

Here is my selection for the April 2008 Photomedicine and Laser Surgery

The Impact of low power laser in the treatment of conditioning-induced oral mucositis: a report of 11 clinical cases and their review.

Antunes HS, Ferreira EM, de Matos VD, Pinheiro CT, Ferreira CG

Serviso de Pesquisa Clinica, Instituto Nacional de Cancer, Rua Andre Cavalcante, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. hspindola@inca.gov.br

We have investigated the clinical effects of low power laser therapy (LPLT) on the treatment of conditioning-induced oral mucositis (OM) in patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The evaluation of OM was done using the Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS) and World Health Organization (WHO) scale. In the context of a randomized placebo-controlled trial with 38 patients for the evaluation of preventive LPLT, eleven individuals were submitted to allogeneic (AL) HSCT and developed oral mucositis grade 4 (WHO) or a total area of OM of 12 cm (OMAS) and due to that were treated with LPLT with the purpose of symptom relief. The irradiation used was a diode InGaAlP, emitting light at 660 nm, 50 mW and … Continue reading →

Here is yet another study demonstrating the effect of LLLT for patents suffering from Oral Mucositis – how much longer can oncologists ignore this procedure ?

IF YOU ARE AN ONCOLOGIST READ THIS

1: Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2008 Mar 1;13(3):E189-92.

The Impact of low power laser in the treatment of conditioning-induced oral mucositis: A report of 11 clinical cases and their review.Antunes HS, Ferreira EM, Matos VA, Pinheiro CT, Ferreira CG.Dr. Héliton Spíndola Antunes, Servişo de Pesquisa Clínica, Instituto Nacional de Cancer (INCA), Rua André Cavalcante, n 37, 2 andar, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, CEP-20231-050, E-mail: hspindola@inca.gov.br.

We have investigated the clinical effects of low power laser therapy (LPLT) on the treatment of conditioning-induced oral mucositis (OM) in patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The evaluation of OM was done using the Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS) and World Health Organization (WHO) … Continue reading →

If you missed the ECI meeting last year (2007) then you can buy related articles here:
Proceedings of Light-Activated Tissue Regeneration and Therapy

I have attended two ECI meetings now and will declare them my favourite on the conference calender. They are only every 2 – 3 years, they are one week long and in a remote location. Watch this space for the announcement of the next event.

Results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders.

It is nice to see LLLT making it into mainstream medical recommendations.

Published in the journal Spine; a systematic review of the literature 1980 – 2006 on the use, effectiveness and safety of noninvasive interventions for neck pain and associated disorders. 139 papers admitted into this review.

CONCLUSIONS: For whiplash-associated disorders, evidence suggests that educational videos, mobilization, and exercises appear more beneficial than usual care or physical modalities. For other neck pain, the evidence suggests that manual and supervised exercise interventions, low-level laser therapy, and perhaps acupuncture are more effective than no treatment, sham, or alternative interventions.

Treatment of neck pain: noninvasive interventions: results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders.

Hurwitz EL, Carragee EJ, van der Velde G, Carroll LJ, Nordin M, Guzman J, Peloso PM, Holm LW, Côté P, Hogg-Johnson S, Cassidy JD, Haldeman S; Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its … Continue reading →