Low-level laser therapy as a treatment for chronic pain.

J Derek Kingsley,Timothy Demchak,Reed Mathis

doi:10.3389/fphys.2014.00306

J Derek Kingsley, Timothy Demchak + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2014.00306

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Abstract

Low-level laser therapy as a treatment for chronic pain.

Highlights

Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for greater than 12 weeks (TaskForce, 1994) and currently affects roughly 30% of the population in the United States (Johannes et al, 2010)
Data suggests an increase in endorphin production (Yamamoto et al, 1988) and opioidreceptor binding via opioid-containing leukocytes with lowlevel laser therapy (LLLT) (Cidral-Filho et al, 2014)
Studies have demonstrated that LLLT may have positive effects on symptomology associated with chronic pain (Fulop et al, 2010; Hsieh and Lee, 2013); this finding is not universal (Ay et al, 2010)

Summary

Introduction

Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for greater than 12 weeks (TaskForce, 1994) and currently affects roughly 30% of the population in the United States (Johannes et al, 2010). Data have suggested that LLLT may augment levels of nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator, which would in turn act to increase blood flow and assist with healing (Samoilova et al, 2008; Moriyama et al, 2009; Cidral-Filho et al, 2014; Mitchell and Mack, 2013). Studies have demonstrated that LLLT may have positive effects on symptomology associated with chronic pain (Fulop et al, 2010; Hsieh and Lee, 2013); this finding is not universal (Ay et al, 2010).

Results

Conclusion