• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Objective: Low level laser treatment (LLLT) is widely used in physical therapy practice. It is combined with physical therapy or LLLT alone. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of LLLT on patients' perception of general wrist pain. Design: Longitudinal study. Methods: Forty-eight subjects with wrist pain who were in the age range of 18-70 years old were examined. The subjects were asked, via an interview and a visual analog scale, to grade their wrist pain. They were asked to rotate their wrists through full range of motion and the angle at which any pain occurred was assessed. Each subject was then exposed to one of the following: 1) treatment with an infrared laser with the power turned off (placebo), 2) treatment with an infrared therapeutic laser, 3) treatment with a red therapeutic laser, 4) treatment with an ultraviolet laser, 5) treatment with a blue laser, 6) treatment with a Mickey Mouse flashlight. The duration of the treatment was 3 sessions in 3 days. Results: The results of the experiments showed that while pain was reduced both immediately after and the next day after laser therapy (p<0.05), there was no significant difference between the laser groups and the placebo group. However, the Mickey Mouse flashlight treatment groups had a greater range of motion than the laser groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: While pain was reduced in all laser groups, it was probably a placebo effect. The Mickey Mouse flashlight group probably received benefit from the heat of the flashlight.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.262-268
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• 2013

The use of dental implants has become a mainstay of rehabilitative and restorative dentistry. With an impressive clinical success rate, there remain a few minor clinical issues with the use of implants such as peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis. The use of laser technology with implants has a fascinating breadth of applications, beginning from their precision manufacturing to clinical uses for surgical site preparation, reducing pain and inflammation, and promoting osseointegration and tissue regeneration. This latter aspect is the focus of this review, which outlines various studies of implants and laser therapy in animal models. The use of low level light therapy or photobiomodulation has demonstrated its efficacy in these studies. Besides more research studies to understand its molecular mechanisms, significant efforts are needed to standardize the clinical dosing and delivery protocols for laser therapy to ensure the maximal efficacy and safety of this potent clinical tool for photobiomodulation.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2020

Photobiomodulation forms the basis of photomedicine and is defined as the effect of coherent or non-coherent light sources, such as low-level lasers and light-emitting diodes, on cells and tissues. This treatment technique affects cell functions, proliferation, and migration, and plays an important role in tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to be beneficial for tissue regeneration, and the combination of stem cell therapy and laser therapy appears to positively affect treatment outcomes. In general, a low-power laser has a positive effect on MSCs, thereby facilitating improvements in different disease models. This study elucidates the mechanisms and effects of low-power laser irradiation on the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of various MSCs that have been examined in different studies.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.8-19
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• 2021

Low-level laser therapy including laser acupuncture (LLLT/LA) has been widely used for non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP). However, there is no critically appraised evidence of its potential benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of LLLT/LA for NCLBP. There were 12 databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, KoreaMed, KMBASE, KISS, NDSL, KISTI, OASIS, CNKI, CiNII, J-stage) searched for randomized controlled trials using LLLT/LA for NCLBP up until June 2019. The primary outcome was pain intensity and functional status/disability due to NCLBP. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted on 20 studies involving 1,323 participants. LLLT/LA showed a significant positive effect on pain relief scores compared with sham treatments (SMD -0.51, 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.13; χ2 = 31.12, I2 = 74%). Alone, the therapy showed a significant positive effect on function/disability scores (30 participants, MD -11.90, 95% CI: -17.37 to -6.43). As an add-on treatment, it showed a significant positive effect on pain relief (80 participants, MD -5.10, 95% CI: -9.31 to -0.88; χ2 = 28.99, I2 = 97%) and improved function/disability scores (120 participants, MD 5.44, 95% CI: 2.19 to 8.68; χ2 = 4.07, I2 = 75%). Among 20 studies, 9 studies reported no adverse events and 1 study reported mild adverse events. LLLT/LA may be an alternative or add-on treatment for NCLBP.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2022

Background: Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) is the most common type of temporomandibular disorder. This study compared the efficacies of low-level diode laser therapy (LLLT) and laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) in the treatment of MPDS. Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial included 24 patients with MPDS who were randomly divided into two equally sized groups. Patients in the LLLT group received 12 sessions of low-level diode laser irradiation applied to the trigger points of the masticatory muscles during 1 month. The same protocol was also used in the LAT group according to the specific trigger points. We measured pain intensity and maximum mouth opening in both groups at baseline, during treatment, and 2 months after treatment completion. Results: The pain intensities decreased from 6.58±1.31 to 0.33±0.65 and from 7.08 ± 1.37 to 0 in the LLLT and LAT groups, respectively. The maximum mouth openings increased from 32.25 ± 8.78 mm to 42.58 ± 4.75 mm and from 33 ± 6.57 mm to 45.67 ± 3.86 mm in the LLLT and LAT groups, respectively. Pain intensity (P = 0.839) and level of maximum mouth opening (P = 0.790) did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusion: Our results showed similar efficacy between LLLT and LAT in the treatment of MPDS signs and symptoms.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.147-151
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• 2016

Tibial defect, or fracture is very routine musculoskeletal case which brings fully uncomfortable and painful situations to patient. Moreover, it has long hospitalization period because of its risk of non-union. There are many studies using ultrasound, vibration, and laser for bone regeneration to figure out fast bone healing. Among them, Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is already known that it is very easy to treat and may have positive effect for bone regeneration. However, LLLT has uncertain energy dose because of scattering and absorption of laser in tissue. In this study, we used interstitial LLLT to treat tibial defect in animal study. The Interstitial LLLT can overcome some limitations caused by laser scattering or absorption in tissue medium. The results were evaluated using u-CT which can calculate X-ray attenuation coefficient and bone volume of bone defect area. These results showed that interstitial LLLT may affect fast bone healing process in early phase.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.5805-5810
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• 2011

This study aims to provide fundamental data to develop anti-aging programs in the aspect of skin care. To attain the goal, manual therapy and low-power laser therapy were conducted separately to 8 women inthe 40's and 50's. They received the facial massage total 8 times twice a week for 4 weeks. According to the result of calculating the average and standard deviation by measuring skin elasticity of the area below their eyes and cheeks and also melanin around eyes and cheeks and conducting comparative analysis, both groups showed significant increase in elasticity and their melanin decreased significantly. The low-power laser therapy showed higher values than the manual therapy both in elasticity increase and melanin reduction; thus, it was analyzed that the low-power laser therapy more highly affects skin elasticity and the amount of melanin in facial skin is greater than that in manual therapy. Therefore, it was analyzed that skin care using low level laser can be significant in anti-aging of facial skin and can be utilized as a program for a new type of skin care.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2002

We designed the experiments to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect of low power laser stimulation on acupoint or non-acupoint using arthrogenic solution induced poly arthritis animal model. In order to achieve the experimental purpose, change in body weight paw edema, pathological changes in inflammed pint and the serum interlukin-6 level were measured after arthritis induction in acupoint later stimulated group, non acupoint laser stimulated group and non treated control animal. The results were summerized as follows: 1. The consistent increase in body weight was observed in the normal animal during whole experimental period, while the induction of arthritis significantly suppressed increase in body weight from the 15 day after arthritis induction. Especially, non treated animal group showed more suppressive effect on increase in body weight as compared to that of low power laser stimulated groups (P<0.05). 2. Low power laser stimulation on acupoint (Zusanli) significantly inhibited edema in the left side paw from the 12th day after arthritis induction as compared to that of non treated animals. This suppressive effect on paw edema was maintained until the end of experiment. 3. Laser treatment on acupoint dramatically suppressed the radiological change (i.e. new bone proliferation and soft tissue swelling) caused by arthritis as compared to that of non treated group animals. 4. Low power laser treatment reduced the increase in serum interlukin-6 caused by arthritis induction to levels observed in the normal animals. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that low power laser stimulation on acupoint has potent anti-inflammatory effect on arthritis. Thus it is recommended that low power laser be used for long term treatment of arthritis induced inflammation. However, further study is necessary to clarify the possible side effect of laser treatment depending upon intensity and duration of stimulation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.514-515
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• 2008

Low level laser therapy has various therapy effects. This paper performed the basic study for developing the Low Level Laser Therapy Equipment for medical treatment. The apparatus has been fabricated using the laser diode and microprocessor unit. This equipment was fabricated using a micro-controller and a laser diode, and designed to enable us to control light time, frequency and so on. In this study, the designed device was used irradiation to find out how 850 nm laser diode affected the cell proliferation of RAT bone-marrow cells. Experiment was performed to irradiation group and non-irradiation group for Rat bone marrow cells. MTT assay method was chosen to verify the cell increase of two groups and the effect of irradiation on cell proliferation was examined by measuring 590 nm transmittance of micro plate reader. As a result, the cell increase of Rat bone marrow cells was verified in irradiation group as compared to non-irradiation group. The fact that specific wavelength irradiation has an effect on cell vitality and proliferation is known through this study.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.319-327
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• 2011

Skeletal muscle fatigue is defined as a 'any reduction in the maximal capacity to generate force or power output', and is the reduction of oxygen consumption and by-product of metabolism. For the muscle fatigue therapy, low level laser has been introduced that leads the mitochondrial respiratory and attributes the muscle fatigue recovery. This study analyzed the muscle fatigue signals from electromyography(EMG) during low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Healthy subjects performed voluntary elbow flexion-extension excercise and received placebo LLLT and active LLLT using a 830 nm laser diode. Then, EMG were measured for the evaluation of muscle fatigue. The acquired EMG data were analyzed with median frequency and short time fourier transform methods. The results showed that the LLLT had a significant symptomatic relief of muscle fatigue based on the EMG frequency analysis. Therefore, the muscle fatigue analysis with EMG signals can be applied to quantitative evaluation for the monitoring of LLLT effects.