A Comprehensive Review on the Effects of Laser Photobiomodulation on Skeletal Muscle Fatigue in Spastic Patients

Abstract

Peripheral muscle fatigue is a common experience in daily life. Every individual at some point in their life has realized the inability to maintain muscle contraction, a phenomenon known as fatigue. Interestingly, neurological patients with peripheral sequelae such as spastic muscle contraction are able to remain in a pattern of muscle contraction for prolonged periods. The effects of laser therapy are already recognized in muscle contraction to delay skeletal muscle fatigue, prolong physical activity, and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness. However, the effects of photobiomodulation on neurological patients with muscular spasticity are still not well established. The present literature review seeks to recognize articles about the application of laser irradiation, also known as photobiomodulation, to patients with muscle fatigue and/or spastic palsy. To perform a literature review, we used the systematic review methodology for the literature search. The following keywords were searched: (skeletal muscle fatigue) AND (spastic patients) AND (low-level laser therapy OR low intensity laser therapy OR low energy laser therapy OR LLLT OR LILT OR LELT OR infrared laser OR IR laser OR diode laser), and these were used for search on the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, BIREME, Scopus, and SciELO. Besides that, a literature review concerning on muscle physiology, fatigue, and LLLT was made. No language filter was applied, and altogether, 689 papers were identified. A group of 3 physiotherapists and 01 pharmaceutical scientist performed the literature review, and every exclusion was confirmed by at least two reviewers. After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 128 studies were included in this review. Conclusion, the LLLT can contribute to the recovery of spastic patients and muscles in fatigue. However, the real effect of laser photobiomodulation on muscle spasticity remains to be established. Only a much reduced number of clinical trials have been performed with a small number of participants. There is a lack of clinical trials from different research groups that could help to understand and elucidate the effects of laser in prolonged muscle contraction in spastic palsy.

The Effect of Photobiomodulation on Temporomandibular Pain and Functions in Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders: An Updated Systematic Review of the Current Randomized Controlled Trials

“…The efficacy of PBMT as a non-invasive pain reduction approach has been shown in several studies. [82][83][84][85] The analgesic effect of PBMT might be a result of its positive impact on the reduction of muscle spasms, 86 a decrease of inflammation by attenuating the levels of PGE2 87 and inhibiting COX-2, 88 an increase in nociceptive threshold, 83 enhancing the peripheral endogenous opioid production, 89 and suppression of nerve conduction in myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C fibers. 90 One of the unique advantages of the PBMT analgesic effect is that no development of tolerance or adaptation to the PBMT has been reported so far.…”

The Emerging Role of Photobiomodulation in COVID-19 Therapy Part II

“…Observed improvements in general patient health from PBM include enhanced mobility 36,37 ; reduced muscle fatigue and cramping 38,39 ; reduced pain and inflammation 40,41,42 ; improved breathing with reduced bronchoconstriction 43 ; improved cardiovascular performance 44 ; amelioration of digestive distress 45,46,47,48 ; accelerated wound healing 49,50,51 ; reduced mental stress 52,53 ; improved sleep quality 54 , enhanced brain waste removal 55 ; and an heightened sense of overall wellbeing. Although the enumerated PBM indications extend beyond acute COVID etiology, as a multisystem inflammatory disease long COVID involves all of the aforementioned mechanisms.…”

Photo Bio-stimulation on Acupuncture Points: Impact on Selected Measures in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

“…According to Stamborowski et al (2021), photo bio-stimulation, in other words, LLLT, can be effective in the treatment of multiple musculoskeletal conditions while Putri et al (2020) suggested LLLT can be beneficial in reducing spasticity in CP children.…”