Laser acupuncture-induced analgesic effect and molecular alterations in an incision pain model: a comparison with electroacupuncture-induced effects

Abstract

Low-level laser acupuncture (LLLA) produces photobiomodulation through acupuncture point and is an alternative to low-level laser therapy. Although the analgesic effect of LLLA on chronic pain has been proven, its effect on acute postincisional pain has yet to be investigated. A plantar incision (PI) model was used to mimic human postsurgical pain. Male adult rats received GaAlAs laser irradiation at the right ST36 acupoint immediately after operation and on the following 4 days. Three laser treatment groups (two red laser groups with a 30- or 15-min treatment duration and one 30-min near-infrared laser group) were compared with sham LLLA and naive groups and an electroacupuncture (EA) group (separate study). Behavioral withdrawal thresholds of both hind paws were measured before and after incision. Expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (p-ERK and p-p38), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the spinal cord was analyzed. All three LLLA treatments attenuated post-PI tactile allodynia in the ipsilateral paw, but only the 30-min red laser treatment affected the contralateral paw and had similar efficacy to that of EA. All laser treatments barely reduced heat hyperalgesia in both hind paws. At 3 days after PI, the 30-min red laser group showed reversed increases of PI-induced p-ERK, p-p38, and iNOS but not TNF expression in the spinal cord. Repetitive LLLA treatments ameliorated PI-induced mechanical pain. The inhibition of multiple sensitization signals highlights the unique clinical role of LLLA. Thus, LLLA is an alternative to EA as an adjuvant for postoperative pain control.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s10103-017-2367-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Long-Lasting and Additive Analgesic Effects of Combined Treatment of Bee Venom Acupuncture and Venlafaxine on Paclitaxel-Induced Allodynia in Mice

“…The ST36 acupoint is located on the tibialis anterior muscle of the leg, and its functions in traditional oriental medicine are to fortify the spleen and stomach, replenish qi and nourish blood, clear and activate meridians, and nourish the channels [ 15 ]. Lots of pre-clinical works indicated that stimulations applied on this acupoint (e.g., BVA, electro-acupuncture, laser-acupuncture, or moxibustion) can produce significant pain-relieving effects under diverse conditions, such as neuropathic, incision, or inflammatory pain state [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) as a Complementary Medicine for Women to Adjust Their Autonomic Nervous Systems and Induce Specific Brain Waves - A Case Report

“…The results showed that all LA treatments attenuated post-PI tactile allodynia in the ipsilateral paw. LA is effective in alleviating pain and some pain relief mechanisms caused by LA were discovered [16]. From many scientific reports and our studies, PBMT is an easy to use alternative medicine with a high potential to treat chronic diseases.The formula, based on traditional Chinese medicine, should be better defined using clinical trials.…”

Ultrasound Acupuncture for Oxaliplatin‐induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A Pilot Study

“…However, such a paradigm has slowly shifted in the last decade with the acknowledgment that problems with study design, a powerful placebo effect from sham intervention, and insufficient treatment groups commonly contribute to the contradicting results in the literature. With the emerging availability of better‐designed studies utilizing factorial experiments, or pragmatic or cluster randomized clinical trials to present a more rigorous discussion addressing the multi‐factorial and complexity of acupuncture, 40–42 more evidence suggests that different styles of acupuncture, for example, laser acupuncture, ultrasound acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and sham acupuncture induce different bioeffects on pain modulation 43–46 . For example, alterations of objective measures of blood flow volume and skin temperature in the fingers and toes were observed after ultrasound acupuncture in healthy participants 47 .…”