Effects of photobiomodulation in experimental spinal cord injury models: A systematic review

• Published in: Journal of biophotonics Vol. 15; no. 8; pp. e202200059 - n/a
• Main Authors: Cruz Tobelem, Daysi, Silva, Tamiris, Araujo, Tamires, Andreo, Lucas, Malavazzi, Tainá Caroline dos Santos, Horliana, Anna Carolina Ratto Tempestini, Fernandes, Kristianne Porta Santos, Bussadori, Sandra Kalil, Mesquita‐Ferrari, Raquel Agnelli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA 01.08.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Attention; Cytokines; Humans; Inflammation; Injury prevention; Irradiation; Light therapy; low level laser therapy; Low-Level Light Therapy; Neuroprotection; photobiomodulation; Radiometry; Recovery of function; Recovery of Function - radiation effects; Spinal Cord; Spinal cord injuries; Spinal Cord Injuries - radiotherapy; spinal cord injury; Standardization; photobiomodulation; spinal cord injury; inflammation; low level laser therapy
• ISSN: 1864-063X; 1864-0648; 1864-0648
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202200059

This systematic review investigated the repercussions of photobiomodulation using low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) in experimental models. Studies were identified from relevant databases published between January 2009 and December 2021. Nineteen original articles were selected and 68.4% used light at an infrared wavelength. There was a considerable variation of the power used (from 25 to 200 mW), total application time (8–3000 s) and total energy (0.3–450 J). In 79% of the studies, irradiation was initiated immediately after or within 2 h of the SCI, and treatment time ranged continuously from 5 to 21 days. In conclusion, LLLT can be an auxiliary therapy in the treatment of SCI, playing a neuroprotective role, enabling functional recovery, increasing the concentration of nerve connections around the injury site and reducing pro‐inflammatory cytokines. However, there is a need for standardization in the dosimetric parameters. Spinal Cord Injury is a clinical situation of extreme social relevance, which can lead to great functional limitation, impacting the quality of life of people with this type of injury. This fact is highlighted by the scarcity of treatment possibilities to alleviate these limitations. In this context, this review brings interesting and innovative results about studies that used photobiomodulation after this type of injury in different experimental models and showed positive results for neuromuscular repair.