From the Guidelines
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is used for various medical conditions, including pain relief, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue healing, although the provided evidence does not directly support its use. The provided study 1 discusses the management of atopic dermatitis, recommending phototherapy as a treatment for both acute and chronic conditions in children and adults after failure of other measures. However, this study does not specifically mention photobiomodulation. In real-life clinical practice, photobiomodulation is commonly used for musculoskeletal conditions, wound healing, neurological conditions, and oral health issues. Key aspects of photobiomodulation therapy include:
- Applying low-power light to stimulate cellular function
- Using red or near-infrared wavelengths between 600-1000nm
- Treatment protocols involving sessions of 5-30 minutes, administered several times weekly
- Courses lasting 2-12 weeks depending on the condition
- Mechanism of action involving interaction with cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria, enhancing ATP production, and modulating cellular signaling pathways. Given the lack of direct evidence in the provided study, the decision to use photobiomodulation would be based on other, more relevant studies, prioritizing the most recent and highest quality research.
From the Research
Applications of Photobiomodulation (PBM)
- PBM is used to stimulate healing, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation 2
- It has been found to be effective in reducing markers of M1 phenotype in activated macrophages, and reducing reactive nitrogen species and prostaglandins in various animal models 2
- PBM can reduce inflammation in the brain, abdominal fat, wounds, lungs, and spinal cord 2
Therapeutic Benefits of PBM
- PBM imparts therapeutically significant benefits in the healing of chronic wounds, including augmenting tissue regeneration and repair, mitigating inflammation, relieving pain, and reducing oxidative stress 3
- It stimulates the mitochondria, resulting in an increase in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and the downstream release of growth factors 3
- PBM has been shown to reduce acute pain and inflammation in mice, and can prevent nociception induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid 4
Wound Healing Effects of PBM
- PBM has been found to enhance wound healing effects, with linearly polarized irradiation showing promising results 5
- The use of S-wave polarized light has been shown to reduce the wound surface area and increase the epithelial tongue ratio, indicating faster recovery 5
Pain Management using PBM
- PBM is a simple, efficient, and cost-effective treatment for both acute and chronic pain, and has been shown to increase the pain threshold in mice 6
- The optimal effect of PBM on pain management occurs 2 to 3 hours post-irradiation and disappears by 24 hours, with no development of tolerance after repeated irradiations 6