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

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.51-55
• /
• 1991

There is a variety of therapeutic modality for herniated nucleus pulposus. Recently the low level laser has come into use for treatment for it. We treated two patients suffered from herniated nucleus pulposus of the central type of $L_{3,4}$ level, with He-Ne, $CO_2$ and Ga Al As laser simultaneously daily under hospitalization. In order to determine the efficacy of treatment, we used the "visual analogue scale" and its improvement rate. The results were as follows; Case I complained of gait disturbance, and hypoesthesia on the lateral side of the left lower leg, as and as low back pain. At the 15th day after treatment, VAS improvement rate was 40%, and the gait disturbance and hypoesthesia were markedly improved. 35th days after tratement, VAS improvement rate was 80%. Case II complained only of low back pain. At the 15th day after treatment, the VAS improvement rate was 68%, and at 20 days after treatment it was 84%. We sugsest that, using the low level laser for treatment of herniated nucleus pulposus increased the cartilage entrophism, and inhibitory effects of the inflammatory materials such as acid glycosaminoglycan by its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

• International Journal of Contents
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.59-63
• /
• 2011

The aim of our study was to evaluate the immediate effects of an 830-nm Aluminium gallium arsenide (GaAlAs) laser, by examining the changes, in pressure-pain threshold (PPT) and tenderness at 3 kg of the myofascial trigger point (MTrP) of the upper trapezius muscle in visual display terminal (VDT) workers in comparison with placebo treatment. Thirty VDT workers (13 males, 17 females) with complaints of upper trapezius muscle were recruited. All participants were given either active GaAlAs laser (830 nm wavelength, 450 mW, 9 J at point) or placebo GaAlAs laser, according to the double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial. Both active and placebo low-level laser therapy (LLLT) treatments showed no significant effect on PPT and tenderness at 3 kg. These results suggest that a higher dosage may be necessary to produce immediate effects when applying LLLT to the MTrP of relatively large muscles such as the upper trapezius muscle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.77-83
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to do numerical analysis of the wavelength dependence in low level laser therapy (LLLT) using a finite element method (FEM). Methods: Numerical analysis of heat transfer based on a Pennes' bioheat equation was performed to assess the wavelength dependence of effects of LLLT in a single layer and in multilayered tissue that consists of skin, fat and muscle. The three different wavelengths selected, 660 nm, 830 nm and 980 nm, were ones that are frequently used in clinic settings for the therapy of musculoskeletal disorders. Laser parameters were set to the power density of 35.7 W/$cm^2$, a spot diameter of 0.06 cm, and a laser exposure time of 50 seconds for all wavelengths. Results: Temperature changes in tissue based on a heat transfer equation using a finite element method were simulated and were dominantly dependent upon the absorption coefficient of each tissue layer. In the analysis of a single tissue layer, heat generation by fixed laser exposure at each wavelength had a similar pattern for increasing temperature in both skin and fat (980 nm > 660 nm > 830 nm), but in the muscle layer 660nm generated the most heat (660 nm ${\gg}$ 980 nm > 830 nm). The heat generation in multilayered tissue versus penetration depth was shown that the temperature of 660 nm wavelength was higher than those of 830 nm and 980 nm Conclusion: Numerical analysis of heat transfer versus penetration depth using a finite element method showed that the greatest amount of heat generation is seen in multilayered tissue at = 660 nm. Numerical analysis of heat transfer may help lend insight into thermal events occurring inside tissue layers during low level laser therapy.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.313-320
• /
• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of chewing gum and low-level laser therapy in alleviating orthodontic pain induced by the initial archwire. Methods: Patients with 3-6 mm maxillary crowding who planned to receive non-extraction orthodontic treatment were recruited for the study. Sixty-three participants (33 females and 30 males) were randomly allocated into three groups: laser, chewing gum, and control. In the laser group, a gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) diode laser with a wavelength of 820 nm was used to apply a single dose immediately after orthodontic treatment began. In the chewing gum group, sugar-free gum was chewed three times for 20 minutes-immediately after starting treatment, and at the twenty-fourth and forty-eighth hours of treatment. Pain perception was measured using a visual analog scale at the second, sixth, and twenty-fourth hours, and on the second, third, and seventh days. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups at any measured time point (p > 0.05). The highest pain scores were detected at the twenty-fourth hour of treatment in all groups. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the study, we could not detect whether low-level laser therapy and chewing gum had any clinically significant effect on orthodontic pain. Different results may be obtained with a higher number of participants or using lasers with different wavelengths and specifications. Although the study had a sufficient number of participants according to statistical analysis, higher number of participants could have provided more definitive outcomes.

• Medical Lasers
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.132-137
• /
• 2021

The effects of low-level laser irradiation on cells and tissues, known as photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), are the basis of photomedicine. Several investigations have evaluated the therapeutic effects of PBMT for neuronal regeneration and differentiation in animal models and humans. Recently, intranasal PBMT (iN-PBMT) has shown potential as a treatment method for neurologic disorders. In this review, we have summarized the various modes of iN-PBMT delivery and their application in the treatment of brain disorders.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.223-230
• /
• 2007

Low power laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation have been utilized in many clinical applications for the treatment of musculoskeletal lesion. This study was to investigate the effects of low power He-Ne IR laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the change of the serum biochemical components in experimentally induced muscle injured rats. The twenty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly assigned to the 4 groups: the normal group (n=5), the control group (n=5), the low power laser irradiation group (LLI) (n=5) and the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group (NMES) (n=5). The experimentally induced muscle injury was induced by the subcutaneous injection of a 0.1 ml Freund's Complete Adjuvant into the right hind paw and calf muscles in control, LLI and NMES groups. The LLI group was irradiated with He-Ne IR laser for 5 minutes every day during 10 days. Also, the NMES group was electrically stimulated 15 minutes every day during 10 days. The normal and control groups were not received with any therapeutic intervention. The authors performed tests which were the concentration of the serum biochemical components to detect the effects of therapeutic interventions. The results were as follows: 1. The level of the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly decreased in the LLI and NMES groups compare to the control group. 2. The level of the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly decreased in the LLI and NMES groups compare to the control group. 3. The level of the serum creatine kinase (CK) was significantly decreased in the LLI and NMES groups compare to the control group. From the results, we could come to the conclusion that low power laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation could be accelerating healing processes of skeletal muscle injury and further clinical work will be required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.8-19
• /
• 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 Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.715-724
• /
• 1996

This study was performed to identify the proliferation and to measure the alteration of alkaline phosphatase activity in human gingival fibroblasts cultured. For the present study, the authors cultured the human gingival fibroblasts oriented from the sound interdental gingiva, and used third passage. It was used methyl $[^3H]$ Thymidine to identify the proliferation in human gingival fibroblasts and used 410nm of the spectrophotometer to measure the alteration of the alkaline phosphatase activity in human gingival fibroblasts. The results were as follows: 1. There was a statistically significant increase in the proliferation of gingival fibroblasts following low level laser irradiation at 24 hour(p<0.05). 2. There was a statistically significant increase in activity of alkaline phosphatase compared to control group at 5-day laser irradiation after in laser irradiation groups(p<0.05). And there was a statistically significant increase in activity of alkaline phosphatase compared to control group at 7-day laser irradiation after in the I-minute laser irradiation group(p<0.05), but there was a statistically significant decrease in activity of alkaline phosphatase compared to 1minute laser irradiation group at 7-day laser irradiation in the 2-minute laser irradiation group after(p<0.05). The results, within the limits of the present experiments, suggest that, the low level laser irradiation accelerates the proliferation of gingival fibroblasts and alters the alkaline phosphatase activity until the restricted period.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.120-124
• /
• 2009

The concept of biostimulation of wounds by low-level laser therapy(LLLT) is attracting considerable attention. Although its effect on whole tissues has been studied quite extensively, the biological and cellular mechanisms underlying LLLT have not been clarified. In an experimental radius fracture in rabbits, Tang and Chai reported that LLLT enhanced the activity of red blood cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoclasts within the fracture area. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of LLLT with a GaAlAs diode laser device on bone healing in rabbit mandibular fractures. We use 12 rabbits for this study. All rabbits were fractured mandible angle area using saw in anesthetic condition. In control group(n=6), none treatment was performed at fracture site. In experimental group(n=6), LLLT with a GaAlAs diode laser was radiated at fracture site daily for 7 days. All rabbits were sacrificed at 6 weeks later from performed fracture day. We studied the immunohistochemical staining of CD34 and Vimentin and the histochemical analysis for calcium and phosphorus content. The results were as follows. 1. In the histological and immunohistological staining, after 6week, fibroblasts, osteogenic cells and collgen fibers were observed more in experimental group than in control group. 2. In the histochemical analysis, the amount of calcium and phosphorus contents of the experimental group were more than the control group. From the results obtained, we suggest that the bone healing is stimulated by low-level laser irradiation in bone fractures.