Photobiomodulation
PHOTOBIOMODULATION: LLLT and LED THERAPY
A NEW FDA-CLEARED LIGHT TECHNOLOGY PROTOCOL
BACKGROUND:
Musculoskeletal pain affects 116 million Americans annually at a cost of $635 billion a year in medical bills, lost productivity and missed work or school. All therapeutic treatments have their benefits, but also possess different side effects, risks and or complications. The current treatment for musculoskeletal pain includes modalities, immobilization, medications, chiropractic care, physical therapy, behavioral management, injections and/or surgery. These stand therapies have their particular associated risks/side effect profiles including peptic ulcers/gastric bleeding, systemic effects (cardiovascular), infections (including epidural abscess), narcotic dependency/addition, deformities, neurologic deficits, and surgical complications. The natural history of chronic pain is one of increasing dysfunction, impairment and possible disability.
What is LLLT?
LLLT falls under the National Institute of Health’s adopted term “Photobiomodualtion (PMB)” as the new medical science term for the science of light therapy and its technology. There are three categories of Photobiomoduation: 1) Low Level Laser Therapy; 2) Low Level Light Therapy; and 3) its newly FDA-cleared light technology with Light Emitting Diode (LED) Therapy. The Institute felt photobiomodulation more accurately describes the physiological mechanism(s) that result from the application of this FDA-cleared technology. You will find over 5,000 research articles about photobiomodulation and its technology on PubMed website (www.pubmed.gov). Use one of the key words in your search: photobiomodulation, LLLT, or polychromatic light therapy to learn more about how light therapy actually produces significant improvement for a number of conditions, diseases, as we as, promoting healing.
LLLT is the application of light (usually a low powered laser or LED typically power range of (10mW – 500m W). Light with a wavelength in the red to near infrared region of the spectrum (660nm – 905nm) is generally employed because these wavelengths have the ability to penetrate skin, and soft/hard tissues and are proven in clinical trials to have a good effect on pain, inflammation and tissue repair. The result of treatment is a reduction of inflammation, pain relief and accelerated tissue regeneration.
LLLT and LED in Treatment of Pain
Acute orthopedic conditions such as sprains, strains, post-surgical pain, whiplash injury, muscular back pain, cervical or lumbar radiculopathy, tendinitis and chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, frozen shoulder, neck and back pain, epicondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinopathy, fibromyalgia, plantar fasciitis, post tibial fracture surgery and chronic regional pain syndrome are amenable to LLLT/LED treatment. Neuropathic pain conditions can also be treated such as post herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and diabetic neuropathy.
Effect of NASA Light Emitting Diode (LED Light Therapy) on Wound Healing
NASA recognized that the need to care for a population with chronic wounds is a growing challenge that requires innovative approaches. Two approaches that specifically address the identified pathophysiological processes involved in would healing are hyperbaric oxygen (FBO) therapy and Light Emitting Diode (LED) Light therapy. HBO therapy is currently the standard for care for ischemic, hypoxic, infected, and otherwise slowly healing, problem wounds. NASA found that Light Emitting Diodes (LED for light therapy alone, and in conjunction with HBO), will greatly enhance the natural wound healing process. This will save valuable time and resources for both patients and health care facilities. Furthermore, improved wound healing will reduce the risk of infection for the patient, decrease the amount of costly dressing required, and more quickly return the patient to a preinjury/illness level of activity. All of which, offers significant benefits to medical insurance companies.
Clinical tests indicated that LED produced in vitro increases of cell growth of 155 – 171% of normal human epithelial cells. Wound size decreased up to 40% in musculoskeletal training injuries in Navy SEAL team members and decreased wound healing time in crew members aboard U.S. Naval submarines. This work was supported and managed through the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center-SBIR Program.
Phototherapy with LED Shows Promising Results in Healing Chronic Wounds in Diabetes Mellitus Patients
Chronic diabetic wounds are very difficult to treat due to underlying conditions such as angiopathy and neuropathy, resulting in slow healing rates. Conventional treatment options are often insufficient and do not provide satisfactory outcomes. Phototherapy with LED enhances the healing processes through mechanisms of energy exchange between incoming photons and their target, the main one being cytochrome-c oxidase in mitochondria.
A double-blind, randomized study included 60 patients with a chronic diabetic wound treated at the University Medical Center Ljubljana between October 1, 2012 and December 1, 2014. Patients were randomized into either an active group (LED group) or a control group (Co- group). The active group was treated with LED 2.4 J/cm2 (wavelengths 625, 660, 850 nm) three times a week for 8 weeks. The Co-group was treated with light that simulated LED. Healing was evaluated using the Falanga wound bed score and wound surface area.
The average baseline wound surface before treatment was 1315 mm2 in the LED group and 1584 mm2 in the Co-group (p = 0.80). After 8 weeks, the mean surface in the LED group was 56% of the baseline surface and 65% in the Co-group (p > 0.05). Falanga score evaluation showed significantly faster wound bed healing in the LED group compared with the Co-group (p < 0.05).
According to the results, LED significantly improves healing of chronic diabetic wounds and prepares the wound bed for further coverage options.
Advanced LED Technology Treatment Device
Advanced LED Technology is a photobiomodulation instrument that uses Light Emitting Diode (LED) for a wide range of therapeutic treatments and falls under the FDA- cleared light technology protocol. Neu-Guard LED Device can be effectively used to deactivate pathogenic bacteria and promote rapid healing.
You will find our Device is effective for:
- Bacteria Killing (MRSA, Staph and other Pathogenic Bacteria)
- Pain Relieving
- Acne
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Back Pain
- Burns
- Cold sores
- Knee Pain
- Rotator Cuff
- Shingles
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Wound Healing: diabetic wounds, open wounds, spider bites,