Perspectives on photobiomodulation and combined light-based therapies for rehabilitation of patients after COVID-19 recovery

Abstract

The post-COVID-19 condition or ‘long COVID’ is a clinical and scientific challenge for society. In this regard, patients after COVID-19 recovery show a vast range of sequels including muscular, articular lesions, neurological, dermatological, and pulmonary issues. These clinical consequences are issues in the present and for the future. In this case, rehabilitation therapies based on photobiomodulation and combined therapies arise as excellent tools to solve it. Herein, we describe and discuss the perspectives on the use of light-based therapies such as photobiomodulation, photodynamic therapy and combined vacuum and laser therapy for rehabilitation of patients who present some sequelae of the COVID-19 infection. We did not intend to produce a comprehensive review; instead we highlight the most important and clinical protocols against these sequels. Moreover, the principles and mechanism of action of each light-based technique proposed were reported and discussed.

Near-infrared photobiomodulation therapy for rehabilitation of patients with long COVID

“…About 80% of the patients recovering from COVID-19 have inflammation symptoms, like fatigue, myopathy, myalgia, muscle weariness, joint pain, brain fog, headache, mental tiredness, asthenia, adynamia, dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss, telogenic effluvium and mood disturbances. Here, we demonstrate how transcranial and systemic photobiomodulation using near-infrared LEDs emitting 850 nm wavelength light enhanced cognition and reduced pain [1,2,3,4].…”

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

“…Numerous publications support the efficacious application of PBM in the treatment of long COVID. PBM therapeutic regimens include convalescence of muscle atrophy and articular inflammation 272,273 ; functional restoration of organs 273,274 and vascular endothelia 275 ; and rehabilitation of neurological 276 and brain fog 277 . Because long COVID may appear sixmonths to one-year following acute viral infection and since long COVID is challenging to identify and diagnose, many papers remain unpublished at this juncture.…”

Fotobiomodulação Transabdominal Como Terapia Sinérgica No Manejo Do Microbioma E Suas Possíveis Aplicações Em Harmonização Orofacial

“…Em nossa rotina clínica de atendimento das complicações de COVID-19, assim como em decorrência da COVID LONGA (como vem sendo chamada quando os sintomas são persistentes) ou ainda nas sequelas pós COVID 19 em que os limites diferenciais ainda não bem definidos pela literatura corrente 14 , sem ainda provisão do consenso sobre terapias que contemplem os sinais e sintomas de forma universal ou direcionada, inclinando a possibilidade de agregar aos tratamentos o uso da fotobiomodulação, que é uma terapia que utiliza a luz com parâmetros radiométricos como comprimento de onda, fluência e irradiância adequados, propiciando uma série de eventos bioquímicos que regulam o metabolismo e ajudam a homeostase de diversas patologias 15,16 .…”