Clinical Data

Intermittent cold & compression therapy

Pain Research & Management

A better way to decrease knee swelling in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A single-blind randomized controlled trial

Sari Z, Aydoğdu O, Demirbüken I, Yurdalan SU, Polat MG

Pain Res Manag. 2019 May 2:2019:8514808.

Intermittent pneumatic compression therapy plus conventional treatment demonstrated significant positive effects on clinical outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Paired with conventional treatment, it had a greater benefit on knee swelling than cold-pack therapy paired with conventional treatment.

#CCT #Knee #Pain #OA #Randomized #Single-Blind #Edema

National Institutes Of Health

Cold and compression in the management of musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic operative procedures: A narrative review

Block JE

Open Access J of Sports Med. 2010 Jul 7;1:105–113. 

Five of seven total knee arthroplasty studies reviewed found cold compression therapy superior to alternative treatment modalities for improving clinical outcomes after knee replacement surgery.

#CCT #Injury #Post-Op

Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy

Combination of cold and compression after knee surgery: A prospective randomized study

Schröder D, Pässler HH

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 1994;2(3):158-65.

Twelve weeks after ACL reconstruction surgery, patients who received cold and compression experienced significantly less swelling, less pain, and a significantly reduced consumption of analgesics than patients receiving ICE. They also had up to 17° greater range of motion and significantly higher functional knee score.

#CCT #Knee #ACL #Post-Op #Pain #Narcotics #ROM #Function

Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery

Compressive cryotherapy is superior to cryotherapy alone in reducing pain after hip arthroscopy

Klaber I, Greeff E, O’Donnell J

Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery. 2019 Dec; 6(4).

In the early post-operative phase, patients treated with cold and compression after hip arthroscopy reported lower levels of pain than those receiving ice therapy alone. They were able to be discharged sooner and showed a trend toward lower opioid analgesia requirement.

#Pain #CCT #Post-Op #Hip #Randomized #Narcotics #Hospital Stay

Journal Of Arthroplasty

Continuous-flow cold therapy after total knee arthroplasty

Morsi E

J Arthroplasty. 2002 Sep;17(6):718-22.

After total knee arthroplasty on two limbs, a patient received different therapies on each limb. The limb that received continuous-flow cold therapy had better range of motion, volume of Hemovac output and blood loss, visual analog pain score, analgesic consumption, and wound healing.

#Pain #CCT #Post-Op #Knee #TKA #ROM #Blood Loss #Narcotics #Wound

Journal Of Arthroplasty

Continuous local cooling for pain relief following total hip arthroplasty

Saito N, Horiuchi H, Kobayashi S, Nawata M, Takaoka K

J Arthroplasty. 2004 Apr;19(3):334-7.

After total hip arthroplasty, patients given cryotherapy reported significantly lower pain scores and significantly lower postoperative analgesic use.

#CCT #Hip #Pain #THA #Narcotics #Post-Op

Hip International

Cryocompression therapy after elective arthroplasty of the hip

Leegwater NC, Willems JH, Brohet R, Nolte PA

Hip Int. 2012 Sep-Oct;22(5):527-33.

For patients who had total hip arthroplasty, those with cryocompression showed a trend toward less analgesic use, shorter hospital stay, less wound discharge, and less pain at six weeks postoperatively.

#Pain #CCT #Post-Op #Arthroscopy #Narcotics #Hospital Stay

Neuro Spine Institute

Cryo-compression therapy after elective spinal surgery for pain management: A cross-sectional study with historical control

Nabıyev VN, Ayhan S, Adhıkarı P, Cetın E, Palaoglu S, Acaroglu RE

Neurospine. 2018 Sep 9;15(4):348–352. 

After adult spine surgery, patients treated early with DC therapy demonstrated accelerated improvement during early rehabilitation compared to patients treated with painkillers only.

#Pain #CCT #Post-Op #Spine #Narcotics

Orthopaedics & Traumatology Surgery & Research

Cryotherapy with dynamic intermittent compression for analgesia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Preliminary study

Murgier J, Cassard X

Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2014 May;100(3):309-12.

Patients given dynamic intermittent compression combined with cryotherapy after ACL reconstruction demonstrated decreased analgesic drug requirements and improved postoperative recovery of knee range of motion.

#CCT #Knee #ACL #Post-Op #Narcotics #ROM

Journal Of Arthroplasty

Cryotherapy with dynamic intermittent compression improves recovery from revision total knee arthroplasty

Murgier J, Cailliez J, Wargny M, Chiron P, Cavaignac E, Laffosse JM

J Arthroplasty. 2017 Sep;32(9):2788-2791.

Patients who underwent rTKA experienced improved recovery when treated with cryotherapy with dynamic intermittent compression. This study suggests the combination therapy should be integrated into daily practice.

#CCT #Knee #Post-Op #rTKA #Recovery

The Journal Of Knee Surgery

The efficacy of combined cryotherapy and compression compared with cryotherapy alone following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Waterman B, Walker JJ, Swaims C, Shortt M, Todd MS, Machen SM, Owens BD

J Knee Surg. 2012 May;25(2):155-60.

Patients with combined cryotherapy and compression in the postoperative period after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction decreased narcotic use at six weeks by a much higher rate (83%) than those with cryotherapy alone (28%). The combined therapy demonstrated improved short-term pain relief and a greater likelihood of independence from narcotic use.

#CCT #Knee #ACL #Pain #Post-Op #Narcotics

Journal Of Arthroplasty

Postoperative cryotherapy after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective study of 86 patients

Kullenberg B, Ylipää S, Söderlund K, Resch S

J Arthroplasty. 2006 Dec;21(8):1175-9.

Patients who received postoperative cryotherapy total knee arthroplasty had shorter hospital stays than the control group (4.8 days vs. 6.2 days). The study demonstrated that cold compression therapy improves pain control and might lead to range of motion improvement and shorter hospital stay.

#CCT #Knee #Pain #TKA #Post-Op #Prospective #Shorter Hospital Stay #Improved ROM

The Journal Of Bone & Joint Surgery

A prospective, multi-center, randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of a cryopneumatic device on total knee arthroplasty recovery

Su EP, Perna M, Boettner F, Mayman DJ, Gerlinger T, Barsoum W, Randolph J, Lee G

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2012 Nov;94(11 Suppl A):153-6.

After total knee anthroplasty, a cryopneumatic device appeared to decrease the need for narcotics from hospital discharge through two weeks post-operatively. It also resulted in significantly higher patient satisfaction than the control treatment and showed a trend toward greater distance walked in the 6MWT.

#CCT #Knee #Pain #TKA #Post-Op #Multi-Center #Prospective #Randomized #Narcotics

PhotoBioModulation

Lasers In Medical Science

Adjunctive use of combination of super-pulsed laser and light-emitting diodes phototherapy on nonspecific knee pain: Double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial

Leal-Junior ECP, Johnson DS, Saltmarche A, Demchak T

Lasers Med Sci. 014 Nov;29(6):1839-47.

The combination of super-pulsed laser, red, and infrared LEDs was shown to be effective in decreasing pain and improving quality of life for patients.

#PBM #Knee #Pain #Double Blind #Randomized #Placebo Controlled

Analysis of pain relief and functional recovery in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy through therapeutic ultrasound and PhotoBioModulation therapy: A comparative study

Martins JPS, de Lima CJ, Fernandes AB, Alves LP, Neto OP, Villaverde AB

Lasers Med Sci. 2022 Oct;37(8):3155-3167. 

For patients suffering from rotator cuff tendinopathy, adding infrared and red LED irradiation to ultrasound enhanced quality of life, pain intensity relief, shoulder range of motion extension, and muscle strength force.

#PMB #Shoulder #Pain #Quality of Life #Rotator Cuff

Biological effects of low-level laser therapy

Farivar S, Malekshahabi T, Shiari R

J Lasers Med Sci. 2014 Spring;5(2):58-62.

This review looked at some of the proposed cellular mechanisms responsible for visible light’s effect on mammalian cells, including cytochrome c oxidase [with absorption peaks in the near infrared (NIR)].

#PBM #LLLT #Cellular Biology #NO

Photobiomodulation Photomedicine & Laser Surgery

Blue light kills methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

Enwemeka CS, Williams D, Enwemeka SK, Hollosi S, Yens D

Photomed Laser Surg. 2009 Apr;27(2):221-6.

The fact that 470-nm blue light kills HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA in vitro suggests it may have a similar bactericidal effect in human cases of cutaneous and subcutaneous MRSA infections.

#PBM #Infection Controll #Kills Bacteria #Kills MRSA

Pain

The effect of 300 mW, 830 nm laser on chronic neck pain: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Chow RT, Heller GZ, Barnsley G

Pain. 2006 Sep;124(1-2):201-10.

Patients treated with PhotoBioModulation achieved significant improvements in neck pain relief compared to those in the control group.

#PBM #Neck #Pain #Chronic Pain #Placebo #Controlled #Randomized #Double Blind

European Journal of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine

Effects of low-level laser therapy on pain in patients with musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Clijsen R, Brunner A, Barbero M, Clarys P, Taeymans J.

Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2017 Aug;53(4):603-610. 

Low-level laser therapy was shown to be an effective pain treatment modality for adult patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Adherence to WALT dosage recommendations enhances treatment effectiveness.

#PBM #Pain #LLLT #Systematic Review #Meta Analysis

Physiotherapy Research International

The efficacy of low-level laser therapy for shoulder tendinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Haslerud S, Magnussen LH, Joensen J, Lopes-Martins RA, Bjordal JM

Physiother Res Int. 2015 Jun;20(2):108-25. 

Low-level laser therapy is a safe and effective treatment alternative for painful shoulder tendons, not only when used as monotherapy. It appears to induce additive effects in terms of reduced pain and more rapid improvement, even when used as an adjunct to exercise or physiotherapy treatment.

#PBM #LLLT #Shoulder #Pain #Healing #Meta Analysis

The Lancet

Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo or active-treatment controlled trials

Chow RT, Johnson MI, Lopes-Martins RAB, Bjordal JM

The Lancet. 374(9705):1897-1908.

Low-level light therapy reduced acute neck pain for up to 22 weeks in patients with chronic neck pain.

#PBM #Neck #Acute Pain #Systematic Review #Meta Analysis #Placebo Controlled

Current Orthopaedic Practice

A NASA discovery has current applications in orthopaedics

Cotler HB.

Curr Orthop Pract. 2015 Jan;26(1):72-74.

PhotoBioModulation has been actively used for nearly 40 years to reduce pain, inflammation, and edema. It can also promote wound healing, including deep tissues and nerves, and prevent tissue damage through cell death.

#PBM #Knee #Pain #Healing #NASA #Inflammation #Edema #Disability #Osteoarthritis

Journal Of Healthcare Engineering

Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in patients with discogenic lumbar radiculopathy: A double-blind randomized control study

Ahmed I, Bandpei MAM, Gilani SA, Ahmad A, Zaidi F

J Healthc Eng. 2022 Feb 27;2022:6437523. 

For discogenic lumbar radiculopathy, low-level laser therapy has proven to be an efficient adjunct therapy to conventional physical therapy. Compared to conventional physical therapy alone, it demonstrated improvements in local trunk movements, pain intensity, and related functional disability.

#PBM #Low Back #Pain #Double-Blind #Placebo Controlled

Arthritis Research & Therapy

The effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for nonspecific chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Huang Z, Ma J, Chen J, Shen B, Pei F, Kraus VB

Arthritis Res Ther. 2015 Dec 15;17:360. 

Patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain treated with PhotoBioModulation had a significantly lower visual analog scale pain outcome score compared with the placebo group. The findings indicate PhotoBioModulation is an effective method for relieving pain in these patients.

#PBM #LLLT #Low Back #Pain #Systematic Review #Meta Analysis

Photobiomodulation Photomedicine & Laser Surgery

Effects of low-power light therapy on the tissue repair process of chronic wounds in diabetic feet

de Alencar Fonseca Santos J, Campelo MBD, de Oliveira RA, Nicolau RA, Rezende VEA, Arisawa EÂL

Photomed Laser Surg. 2018 Jun;36(6):298-304. 

Low-level light therapy effectively repaired tissue on chronic foot wounds for patients with diabetes.

#PBM #LLLT #Foot #Healing #Chronic Wounds #Diabeties

Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia

Effects of low-power light therapy on wound healing: LASER x LED

Chaves ME, Araújo AR, Piancastelli AC, Pinotti M

An Bras Dermatol. 2014 Jul-Aug;89(4):616-23. 

Phototherapy, either by LASER or LED, was shown to be an effective therapeutic modality for skin wound healing.

#PBM #Healing #Wound

Scientific Reports

The impact of wavelengths of LED light-therapy on endothelial cells

Rohringer S, Holnthoner W, Chaudary S, Slezak P, Priglinger E, Strassl M, Pill K, Mühleder S, Redl H, Dungel P

Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 6;7(1):10700.

In umbilical vein endothelial cells, stimulation with both red and green pulsed LED light significantly increased HUVEC proliferation and 3D migration.

#PBM #LLLT #Pain #Healing #Inflammation #Wound Healing #Systematic Review

Medicine

Light-emitting diode PhotoBioModulation therapy for non-specific low back pain in working nurses: A single-center, double-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial

Lin YP, Su YH, Chin SF, Chou YC, Chia WT

Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Aug 7;99(32):e21611.

LED therapy could be an effective alternative treatment for non-specific chronic low back pain. This prospective, single-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled study aims to research the efficacy of a 2-week LED program for NSCLBP working nurses.

#PBM #Low Back #Pain #Double-Blind #Placebo Controlled

Arthroplasty Today

Low-level laser and light therapy after total knee arthroplasty improves postoperative pain and functional outcomes: A three-armed randomized clinical trial

Bahrami H, Moharrami A, Mirghaderi P, Mortazavi SMJ

Arthroplast Today. 2022 Dec 5;19:101066.

Low-level laser therapy and Bioptron light therapy could be helpful in the early stages of recovery after total knee arthroplasty. It may control immediate and acute knee pain and swelling, reduce the need for opioids, improve range of motion and functional scores, and improve recovery.

#PBM #LLLT #Knee #Pain #Swelling #Healing #Reduction in Opioids #Post Op #Randomized

American College Of Foot & Ankle Surgeons

Low-level laser therapy at 635 nm for treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis: A placebo-controlled, randomized study

Macias DM, Coughlin MJ, Zang K, Stevens FR, Jastifer JR, Doty JF

J Foot Ankle Surg. 2015 Sep-Oct;54(5):768-72.

Patients given low-level laser therapy for the treatment of unilateral chronic fasciitis demonstrated less heel pain.

#PBM #Foot & Ankle #Pain #Chronic Pain #Randomized #Placebo Controlled

The Open Orthopaedics Journal

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for neck pain: A systematic review and meta-regression

Gross AR, Dziengo S, Boers O, Goldsmith CH, Graham N, Lilge L, Burnie S, White R

Open Orthop J. 2013 Sep 20;7:396-419. 

This study noted that further research would be warranted into low-level laser therapy for chronic neck pain and indicated that positive outcomes are expected.

#PBM #Neck #Pain #LLLT #Chronic Pain #Systematic Review #Meta Analysis

AIMS Biophysics

Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of PhotoBioModulation

Hamblin MR

AIMS Biophys. 2017;4(3):337-361.

PhotoBioModulation’s almost complete lack of reported adverse effects and anti-inflammatory effects makes it a therapy of interest to many providers for multiple diseases.

#PBM #Harvard

Photobiomodulation Photomedicine & Laser Surgery

Meta-analysis of pain relief effects by laser irradiation on joint areas

Jang H, Lee H

Photomed Laser Surg. 2012 Aug;30(8):405-17. 

Because it has no reported side effects, low-level laser therapy on joint pain might be a good alternative to NSAIDs, particularly for elderly people.

#PBM #LLLT #Pain #Systematic Review

The nuts and bolts of low-level laser (light) therapy

Chung H, Dai T, Sharma SK, Huang YY, Carroll JD, Hamblin MR

Ann Biomed Eng. 2012 Feb;40(2):516-33.

The authors of this study suggest advances in low-level laser therapy will lead to an expansion of its acceptability and adoption among the medical profession, physical therapists, and the general public. They state that ongoing work using non-laser irradiation sources is encouraging and note the almost complete lack of reported side effects or adverse events.

#PBM #LLLT #No Side Effects

Patellar tendinopathy: Critical analysis review of current nonoperative treatments

Marigi EM, Buckley P, Razi F, Abbas MJ, BS, Jildeh TR, Camp CL, Krych AJ, Okoroha KR

JBJS Rev. 2022 Mar 8;10(3).

Analyzing the existing literature regarding nonoperative treatment of patellar tendinopathy, this study provides additional insight on the effectiveness of current modalities.

#PBM #Foot & Ankle #Pain #Meta Analysis

PhotoBioModulation as an adjunctive treatment to physiotherapy for reduction of anterior knee pain in combat soldiers: A prospective double-blind, randomized, pragmatic, sham-controlled trial

Gavish L, Spitzer E, Friedman I, Lowe J, Folk N, Zarbiv Y, Gelman E, Vishnevski L, Fatale E, Herman M, Gofshtein R, Gam A, Gertz SD, Eisenkraft A, Barzilay Y

Lasers Surg Med. 2021 Dec;53(10):1376-1385.

The addition of PhotoBioModulation to physiotherapy for anterior knee pain in combat soldiers significantly reduced pain in the short term and improved long-term functionality.

#PBM #Knee #Pain #VHA #Double Blind #Randomized #Sham Controlled

Photobiomodulation Photomedicine & Laser Surgery

PhotoBioModulation of pain in carpal tunnel syndrome: Review of seven laser therapy studies

Naeser MA

Photomed Laser Surg. 2006 Apr;24(2):101-10.

Low-level laser therapy had statistically significant short-term effects on patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome compared to a placebo group, especially when applied in the earlier stages of carpal tunnel syndrome.

#PBM #Pain #Carpal Tunnel

Photobiomodulation Photomedicine & Laser Surgery

PhotoBioModulation therapy: A possible answer to the opioid crisis

Ross G

Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019 Nov;37(11):667-668.

This article’s author, a dentist, explains how PhotoBioModulation has provided pain relief for a variety of patient need states. He says PhotoBioModulation has eliminated the need for narcotic pain prescription use in his practice.

#PBM #Pain

PhotoBioModulation therapy (PBMT) on acute pain and inflammation in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty: A randomized, triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

Langella LG, Casalechi HL, Tomazoni SS, Johnson DS, Albertini R, Pallotta RC, Marcos RL, Carvalho PTC, Leal-Junior ECP

Lasers Med Sci. 2018 Dec;33(9):1933-1940. 

This study found PhotoBioModulation therapy to be effective in decreasing pain intensity and post-surgery inflammation for patients receiving total hip arthroplasty.

#PBM #Hip #Pain #Acute Pain #Inflammation #LLLT #Randomized #Triple Blind #Placebo Controlled #Healing #Post Op

Systematic review of the literature of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the management of neck pain.

Chow RT, Barnsley L

Lasers Surg Med. 2005 Jul;37(1):46-52. 

This review found limited evidence from one RCT for the use of infrared laser for the treatment of acute neck pain and four RCTs for the treatment of chronic neck pain. It recommends larger studies to confirm the positive findings and determine the most effective laser parameters, sites, and modes of application.

#PBM #Neck #Pain #LLLT #Chronic Pain #Randomized #Meta Analysis

Photobiomodulation Photomedicine & Laser Surgery

Treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis – tennis and golfer’s elbow – with low-level laser therapy: A multicenter double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on 324 patients

Simunovic Z, Trobonjaca T, Trobonjaca Z

J Clin Laser Med Surg. 1998 Jun;16(3):145-51.

Patients treated with PhotoBioModulation showed significant improvement from pain associated with medial and lateral epicondylitis. In 82% of acute and 66% of chronic cases, pain relief improved functional ability.

#PBM #Elbow #Pain #Acute Pain #Chronic Pain #Double Blind #Randomized #Placebo Controlled

Orthopaedics Rheumatology Open Access Journal

The use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for musculoskeletal pain

Cotler HB, Chow RT, Hamblin MR, Carroll J

MOJ Orthop Rheumatol. 2015;2(5):00068.

PhotoBioModulation has been shown to be beneficial for pain relief and can accelerate the body’s ability to heal itself. With few side effects, it’s an effective therapy option for situations that do not involve structural deficits or instabilities whether in bone or in soft tissue.

#PBM #Pain #LLLT #Inflammation #Edema #Healing