• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.90-100
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of low level laser. Methods : We searched 11 electronic databases(Pubmed, CAJ, EMBASE, Medline, Cochrane Library, KMBASE, KISS, KISTI, NDSL, RISS, Oasis) up to March 2019. We included randomized controlled trials(RCTs) using low level laser for alopecia. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results : 8 RCT studies were eligible in our review. The meta-analysis of 2 studies showed favorable results for the use of low level laser with minoxidil 5% than minoxidil 5% and 6 studies showed favorable results for the use of low level laser than placebo light. The results of meta-analysis showed that low-level laser has an efficacy on alopecia. There were no serious side effects or adverse effects. High risk of bias were observed in all studies. Conclusion : Now limited evidence is available to support low level laser for alopecia and further well-designed RCTs should be encouraged.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2009

Laser has been widely used in various fields of medicine. Recently, noninvasive low-level laser therapeutic medical devices have been introduced in market. However, low-level laser cannot deliver enough photon density to expect positive therapeutic results in deep tissue layer due to the light scattering property in tissue. In order to overcome the limitation, this study was aimed to develop a negative pressure applied low-level laser probe to optimize laser transmission pattern and therefore, to improve photon density in soft tissue. In order to evaluate the possibility of clinical application of the developed laser probe, ex-vivo experiments were performed with porcine skin samples and laser transmissions were quantitatively measured as a function of tissue compression. The laser probe has an air suction hole to apply negative pressure to skin, a transparent plastic body to observe variations of tissue, and a small metallic optical fiber guide to support the optical fiber when negative pressure was applied. By applying negative pressure to the laser probe, the porcine skin under the metallic optical fiber guide is compressed down and, at the same time, low-level laser is emitted into the skin. Finally, the diffusion images of laser in the sample were acquired by a CCD camera and analyzed. Compared to the peak intensity without the compression, the peak intensity of laser increased about $2{\sim}2.5$ times and FWHM decreased about $1.67{\sim}2.85$ times. In addition, the laser peak intensity was positively and linearly increased as a function of compression. In conclusion, we verified that the developed low-level laser probe can control the photon density in tissue by applying compression, and therefore, its potential for clinical applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.433-438
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to compare a 975-nm, 500-mW GaAlAs low-level laser therapy versus placebo low-level laser therapy with regard to the immediate changes on the myofascial trigger point of the dominant upper trapezius muscle in subjects with rounded shoulder posture. METHODS: Thirty-two male college students with rounded shoulder posture and shoulder pain consented to participate in the experiment. The subjects were randomly assigned to a 2-minute procedure with either an active GaAlAs low-level laser or a placebo GaAlAs low-level laser. The pressure-pain threshold and visual analog scale on tenderness at 3 kg were measured with an algometer before and after the laser treatments. RESULTS: The active GaAlAs low-level laser group showed significant changes in pressure-pain threshold and visual analog scale on tenderness at 3 kg (p<0.05). The placebo GaAlAs low-level laser group showed no significant changes in either pressure-pain threshold or visual analog scale on tenderness at 3 kg (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: An immediate effect was observed in pressure-pain threshold and visual analog scale on tenderness at 3 kg following a 2-minute application ($857.14J/cm^2$) of a 975-nm, 500-mW GaAlAs low-level laser to the myofascial trigger point of the dominant upper trapezius muscle in patients with rounded shoulder posture.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.170-175
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• 2017

Objective: The anti-inflammatory effects of low-level laser in burn wound model in rats were investigated. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The rats were assigned to three experimental groups. Group I received second-degree burn wounds; Group II received dressing film and low-level laser ($1.2J/cm^2$) treatment after a burn wound; Group III received dressing film and low-level laser ($2.3J/cm^2$) treatment after a burn wound. After inducing a deep second-degree burn wound, the wound was observed every day and the burn area diameter and retraction quantification at 1, 7, and 14 days were evaluated. Low-level laser was investigated on hematological parameters after 14 days. Effects of low-level laser on the inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ [$TNF-{\alpha}$] and interleukin-6 [IL-6]) concentrations in the serum were evaluated using immunosorbent assay kits. Results: Group III showed a significant difference in wound size on days 7 and 14 compared to Group I (p<0.05). Group II showed a significant difference in wound size on day 14 compared to Group I (p<0.05). For wound contraction percentage, both laser therapy treatment groups showed a significant difference compared with Group I (p<0.05). There was also a significant difference in wound contraction percentage in Group III compared to Group II (p<0.05). Compared with the model control group, decreased $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 levels in the serum was observed at 14 days after burn wound induction. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that low-level laser therapy can assist in burn wound healing, which might be associated with decreased concentrations of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 related proinflammatory cytokines.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.496-496
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• 2007

Low level laser has various therapy effects. This paper performed the basic study for fabricating the low level laser therapy apparatus, and one of the goals of this paper was to make this apparatus used handily. The apparatus has been fabricated using the laser diode and microprocessor unit. The apparatus used a 660nm Laser diode for blood stream improvement and was designed for a pulse width modulation type to increase stimulation effects. In result, we could get the light power of 660nm wavelength and the 1~10Hz irradiation frequency could be controlled stably.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.183-192
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical effects of low level laser therapy on shoulder pain. Methods : From October 1, 2009 to November 14, 2009, we applied 15 participants who consented to an assignment had a shoulder pain to low level laser therapy(LLLT). We treated LLLT 8 times on both upper trapezius, levator scapular, pectoralis, suboccipital, rhomboid, rotator cuff tender point for 2 weeks. To evaluate the efficiency of low level laser therapy, we used questionnaire of shoulder pain symptom, questionnaire of a day living discomfort scale, shoulder pain and disability index(SPADI) and pressure pain threshold(PPT) at before treatment and after treatment 4 times and 8 times. Results : There was a significant difference in questionnaire of shoulder pain symptom, questionnaire of a day living discomfort scale, SPADI and PPT after 8th treatment. Conclusions : Low level laser therapy for shoulder pain is effective to improve patients' symptoms measured with questionnaire of pain and a day living discomfort score, SPADI and PPT significantly.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2021

Low-level laser therapy including laser acupuncture has been widely used for non-specific chronic low back pain in primary Korean medical clinics. However, there is no critically appraised data regarding which treatment conditions are most effective. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine effective treatment conditions using 12 databases (PubMed, Ovid, CENTRAL, KoreaMed, KMBASE, KISS, NDSL, KISTI, OASIS, CNKI, CiNII, and J-STAGE). There were 1,019 studies retrieved and 13 studies included in this review. It was determined that when the power output was ≥ 50 mW, the beam size was increased to ≥ cm², the energy dose was increased to ≥ 4 J per point, the treatment interval was increased to ≥ 3 times a week, and the number of treatment sessions was increased to ≥ 10 treatments, these conditions appeared to increased treatment effectiveness.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.612-619
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• 2010

Background : Low level laser therapy may be an effective method to protect tissue damage in acute stroke. Recently, series of clinical studies on the basis of animal experiments report efficacy and safety of laser therapy at early stages of acute stroke. Laser promotes mitochondrial ATP synthesis to reduce cell death by ischemic infarction. Objectives : To report possibility of non-invasive laser therapy for acute stroke by reviewing literature about its effectiveness, safety and mechanism. Methods : We searched papers using PubMed and 'Web of Knowledge' of Thomson ISI, using the keywords "Laser Therapy, Low-Level" and "Stroke". Limitations were last 10 years of publications and only in English. Search range includes RCTs, clinical reports, reviews and animal experiments. Papers not matched with inclusion criteria were excluded. Results : A total 223 studies were found, 203 excluded during title and extract screening. After scanning 20 papers the final 2 serial RCTs were selected and analyzed. They reported that transcranial laser therapy led in neuroprotective effect for acute stroke patents. Clinical evaluation factors showed favorable trend and initial safety. Conclusions : Non-invasive laser secured safety of clinical application. It may be a favorable choice for the acute stage of stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.674-678
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• 2008

Low level laser therapy has various therapy effects. This paper performed the basic study for fabricating the low level laser therapy apparatus, and one of the goals of this paper was to make this apparatus used handily. The apparatus has been fabricated using the laser diode and microprocessor unit. The apparatus used a 635 nm laser diode for laser medical therapy and was designed for a pulse width modulation type to increase stimulation effects. In this study, the designed device was used to find out how 635 nm laser diode affected the skin injury of SD-Rat(Sprague-Dawley Rat). We divided the participants into two groups; irradiation group which was irradiated 10 minutes a day for 9 consecutive days, and none irradiation group. The results showed that the study group had lower incidence of inflammation and faster recovery, compared with the control group.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.561-569
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study was to improve the knowledge of the low-level laser therapy (LLLT) field and to review research reports on LLLT to understand the current situation with respect to the clinical indication and current research trends.Methods A survey was carried out on the subject of low-level laser therapy to September 2012, using the PubMed search engine. Selected literature was checked by two reviewers and was classified according to the International Classification of Diseases 10th (ICD-10) over 10 years.Results We selected 469 studies in total, of which 142 were case reports, 118 were case-controlled trials, and 209 were randomized controlled trials of LLLT. According to the ICD-10 classification of diseases, the K code and M code being the most common, 399 studies have been published in the last 10 years. This shows that the study and clinical indications of low-level laser therapy have rapidly increased over the past 10 years.Conclusions Low-level laser therapy has been used most frequently with respect to dentistry and pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Recently, interest in and research into LLLT has increased for various diseases. With the establishment of standard conditions for low-level laser therapy, supported by aggressive clinical utilization and systematic clinical research, LLLT will be a very useful treatment and a useful alternative method in many medical fields.