Biolite: A Patented Ultra-Low-Level Laser-Therapy Device for Treating Musculoskeletal Pain and Associated Impairments

Abstract

After an excursus on state-of-the-art knowledge for low-level laser therapy (LLLT), Biolite, a patented ultra-low-level laser therapy device used to treat musculoskeletal pain and associated impairments, is presented. The application protocols include short stimulation of sequences of acupuncture points. The observed effects seem, however, to be far from those that might be expected after acupuncture. The primary effect seems more likely to be an extracellular soft-tissue matrix reaction. The development of the technique, the studies performed, and the evidence collected over > 10 years suggest that specifically modulated laser light can interact with human tissues at light fluences well under those previously considered as being capable of having any effect. Musculoskeletal pain very often becomes an autonomous dysfunction that is independent of the original injury and that can be effectively treated using specific peripheral acupuncture-like stimulation. Because such acupuncture is capable of reducing motor control "interferences" from noxious stimuli, it can improve motor control performance, thereby reducing the risk of falls in the elderly individuals. The proposal of acupuncture-derived protocols to be applied by Western physiotherapists using an ultra-low-level laser therapy device is a further "bridge" between two different, and sometimes very different, clinical worlds to better serve our patients.

Genetic association between ACTN3 polymorphism and risk of non-acute ankle sprain

“…Lieberthal et al (2015) reported that genetic factors contribute to a portion of tendon and ligament injuries; however, no specific genes were identified. Many recent studies have confirmed that COL1A1 (Bible and Mir, 2015), COL5A1 (Gallamini et al, 2015), COL12A1 (Gaut and Duprez, 2016), and TNC (Cody et al, 2015) are associated with tendon and ligament injuries. COL1A1, COL5A1, COL12A1, and TNC encode collagen I (Salamanna et al, 2015), collagen V (Cody et al, 2015), collagen XII (Harvey et al, 2015), and troponin (Niemi and Majamaa, 2005), a glycoprotein widely present in a large number of tendon tissues, which can withstand high tension and pressure.…”

Modulation of Gluteus Medius Strength by Yang Qiao Mai Stimulation: A Multiple Case Report

“…The application performed consisted of 20 seconds of radiation on each acupoint, emitting a dose of energy over 50,000 times smaller than any conventional low power laser applied in medical treatments, interacting with the redox cycle of the proteoglycans of the extracellular soft tissue matrix present in the acupuncture point funnels [13] . Remarkable similarities have been observed between the photobiostimulation and conventional needle acupuncture of the same points to treat musculoskeletal conditions (stimulation of combinations of well-known acupuncture points according to standardized protocols) [14] some ophthalmological conditions (treatments of amblyopia [15] , eye blood perfusion in wide angle glaucoma [16] , and the effects of LU7 Lieque stimulation on respiration depth and frequency [17] ).…”

Ultra-Low-Level Laser Therapy and Acupuncture Libralux: What Is so Special?

“…The device is a development of a previously proposed device, called Biolite ® , that was the specific subject of a publication [7] describing the main application criteria. After some clinical trials [8,9], where there could have been a placebo effect, several trials on animal models have confirmed the effectiveness of the acupuncture-derived applications in acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain [10,11].…”