J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 2(Suppl. 1): S34, 2014
Special supplement with the abstract book of LATINFARMA 2013
Conference
C 017: LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY (LLLT): THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS, DOSES, INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS, SIDE EFFECTS
Fornaini C, Merigo E.
Abstract
Introduction: The first laser device was constructed in 1960 by Maiman and, some years after, this technology began to be used also in medicine. Since 1967 Mester performed several studies reporting that laser irradiation, at extremely low power (mJ), caused several changes in the target tissues determining at macroscopic level, for example, a better and faster healing of skin burns or ulcerative lesions.
Material and methods: A literature metanalysis demonstrated that these effects, invisible to the naked eye, lead essentially to two types of results: the so-called “biostimulation” or, according to newer definitions, “biomodulation” which, exploiting the action of the beam on the mitochondria, through the increase of ATP production and the proliferation and differentiation of fibroblasts, accelerates the healing of tissues decreasing, at the same time, the inflammatory reactions, and the analgesic effect caused by the change of the electric potential at membrane level (theory of the gate).
Results: Mechanisms of laser action on the tissues in LLLT protocols are described in this work by showing several and different clinical cases with a medium-long term follow-up until the gain of clinical result. Laser parameters are analysed in order to give well-defined and reproducible protocols for the clinical practice.
Conclusion: These photochemical effects, caused by the action of laser on tissues and commonly known under the name of LLLT (Low Level Laser Therapy) have countless fields of application but must be administered according to very precise rules and parameters to achieve maximum results.