Category Archives: Research

39 papers for you to review in this edition including the effect of our THOR LED therapy on skeletal muscle recovery when compared with cold water therapy for athletes (well done Ernesto). Two oral mucositis studies, one was positive the other was negative, it just goes to show that correct irradiation parameters are important. This takes us to a total of 13 randomised controlled studies on oral mucositis. My friend Luis De Taboada has published his study on an Alzheimer’s rat model to good effect, There is an RCT on TB, another on muscle strength and two case studies with chronic, traumatic brain injury who had improved cognition following transcranial, LED therapy and much much more.

Comparison between cold water immersion therapy (CWIT) and light emitting diode therapy (LEDT) in short-term skeletal muscle recovery after high-intensity exercise in athletes-preliminary results.

Leal Junior EC, de Godoi V, Mancalossi JL, Rossi RP, De Marchi T, Parente M, Grosselli D, Generosi RA, Basso M, Frigo L, Tomazoni SS, Bjordal JM, Lopes-Martins RA

Center for … Continue reading →

65 LLLT papers for you to review, a new record high for this bi-monthly literature watch. This edition finds 14 human clinical trials, eleven of which happen to be maxillofacial or intraoral related conditions including LLLT treatments for mouth dryness, desensitisation of teeth, periodontitis, complex regional pain syndrome, preventing restenosis after percutaneous angioplasty and a case report where LLLT was highly effective in reversing the effects of  Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Clinical evaluation of Er:YAG, Nd:YAG, and diode laser therapy for desensitization of teeth with gingival recession.

Dilsiz A, Aydin T, Canakci V, Gungormus M

Department of Periodontology, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey. aydilsiz@yahoo.com

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of three types of lasers, Er:YAG, Nd:YAG, and GaAlAs (Diode), as dentin desensitizers, as well as to determine both the immediate and late therapeutic effects on teeth with gingival recessions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 24 patients with 96 teeth with Miller’s class I or class II gingival recessions with clinically elicitable dentin hypersensitivity (DH) divided … Continue reading →

62 new LLLT papers for your review including three RCT‘s: neck pain with radiculopathy, temporomandibular joint pain, muscle fatigue and a review from the BMJ sports medicine journal on frozen shoulder.

Low-level laser therapy for acute neck pain with radiculopathy: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study.

Konstantinovic LM, Cutovic MR, Milovanovic AN, Jovic SJ, Dragin AS, Letic MDj, Miler VM

Clinic for Rehabilitation, Medical School, University of Belgrade, Sokobanjska 13, Belgrade, Serbia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate clinical effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with acute neck pain with radiculopathy. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: The study was carried out between January 2005 and September 2007 at the Clinic for Rehabilitation at the Medical School, University of Belgrade, Serbia. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: Sixty subjects received a course of 15 treatments over 3 weeks with active or an inactivated laser as a placebo procedure. LLLT was applied to the skin projection at the anatomical site of the spinal segment involved with the following parameters: … Continue reading →

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 →

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.

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 →

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 →