ArticlePhotonics & lasers in medicine2012
Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) on muscle tissue: performance, fatigue and repair benefited by the power of light.
Article in Photonics & lasers in medicine, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 101 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Use of Low-level Laser Therapy (808nm) to Muscle Fatigue Resistance: a Randomized Double-blind Crossover Trial
Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Use in Professional Soccer Players During a State Championship
Who cites it
101 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 197 citations in OpenAlex.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of the acute effects of photobiomodulation therapy on the maximum number of repetitions in resistance exercise in young adults.Lasers in medical science · 2025Pooled it
- Deconstructing the Ergogenic Effects of Photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of its Efficacy in Improving Mode-Specific Exercise Performance in Humans.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2022Pooled it
- Rehabilitation strategies in maxillofacial trauma: systematic review and meta-analysis.Oral and maxillofacial surgery · 2020Pooled it
- A Role for Photobiomodulation in the Prevention of Myocardial Ischemic Reperfusion Injury: A Systematic Review and Potential Molecular Mechanisms.Scientific reports · 2017Pooled it
- Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Oxidative Stress in Muscle Injury Animal Models: A Systematic Review.Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity · 2017Pooled it
- Effect of photobiomodulation on fatigue-related errors in ankle joint position reproduction: the moderating role of perceived ankle instability in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.Lasers in medical science · 2026Trial
- Effects of resistance training with/without Photobiomodulation on muscle and respiratory function in difficult-to-control asthma: a randomized trial.Lasers in medical science · 2026Trial
- Acute dose-response effect of photobiomodulation therapy on 5-km running performance in trained runners: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.Lasers in medical science · 2024Trial
- Photobiomodulation therapy (red/NIR LEDs) reduced the length of stay in intensive care unit and improved muscle function: A randomized, triple-blind, and sham-controlled trial.Journal of biophotonics · 2024Trial
- Effect of low-level laser therapy on quadriceps and foot muscle fatigue in children with spastic diplegia: a randomized controlled study.Lasers in medical science · 2023Trial
- Effect of oral exercises and photobiomodulation therapy in the rehabilitation of patients with mandible fractures: randomized double-blind clinical trial.Lasers in medical science · 2022Trial
- Acute Photobiomodulation Does Not Influence Specific High-Intensity and Intermittent Performance in Female Futsal Players.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Trial
- Acute effects of photobiomodulation therapy applied to respiratory muscles of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial.Lasers in medical science · 2020Trial
- Photobiomodulation therapy and NMES improve muscle strength and jumping performance in young volleyball athletes: a randomized controlled trial study in Brazil.Lasers in medical science · 2020Trial
- Effects of photobiomodulation on muscle strength in post-menopausal women submitted to a resistance training program.Lasers in medical science · 2020Trial
- Acute effect of photobiomodulation using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on baroreflex sensitivity during and after constant loading exercise in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Lasers in medical science · 2020Trial
- Light-emitting diode therapy (photobiomodulation) effects on oxygen uptake and cardiac output dynamics during moderate exercise transitions: a randomized, crossover, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.Lasers in medical science · 2018Trial
- Low-level laser therapy improves the VOLasers in medical science · 2018Trial
- Dose-response effect of photobiomodulation therapy on neuromuscular economy during submaximal running.Lasers in medical science · 2018Trial
- Cardiac autonomic responses and number of repetitions maximum after LED irradiation in the ipsilateral and contralateral lower limb.Lasers in medical science · 2018Trial
41 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
The use of low level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) has recently expanded to cover areas of medicine that were not previously thought of as the usual applications such as wound healing and inflammatory orthopedic conditions. One of these novel application areas is LLLT for muscle fatigue and muscle injury. Since it is becoming agreed that mitochondria are the principal photoacceptors present inside cells, and it is known that muscle cells are exceptionally rich in mitochondria, this suggests that LLLT should be highly beneficial in muscle injuries. The ability of LLLT to stimulate stem cells and progenitor cells means that muscle satellite cells may respond well to LLLT and help muscle repair. Furthermore the ability of LLLT to reduce inflammation and lessen oxidative stress is also beneficial in cases of muscle fatigue and injury. This review covers the literature relating to LLLT and muscles in both preclinical animal experiments and human clinical studies. Athletes, people with injured muscles, and patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy may all benefit.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.