Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26610637›Full record

Trial reportLasers in medical science2016

Photobiomodulation and eccentric exercise for Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial.

Steve Tumilty, Ramikrishnan Mani, George D Baxter

3 registry-linked trialsAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Lasers in medical science, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 23 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

NCT05763381 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Photobiomodulation Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis: A Single-Blind Randomized Control Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe Geneva FoundationRan2022 to 2024Enrolled71ConditionsPlantar FascitisArmsPhotobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT), Sham-Photobiomodualtion Therapy (Sham-PBMT)
NCT06403644 naactive not recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Evaluating the Technology and Assessing the Biological Effects of Commercially Available PhotoBioModulation Devices

TypeinterventionalSponsorUnited States Air Force Research LaboratoryRan2024 to 2028Enrolled41ConditionsPhysiological WellnessArmsNovoTHOR XL Photobiomodulation Full Body Light Bed, ARRC LED Photobiomodulation Full Body Light Bed
NCT07750912 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Photobiomodulation Therapy for Pain Control in Post-Operative Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients: A Pilot Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorMohammad Burney, MDRan2026 to 2028Enrolled15ConditionsPain Management, TKA, Post Operative Analgesia, Low Level Laser TherapyArmsLightForce XLI
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

23 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Review
  8. Achilles tendinopathy.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2025
    Review
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Photobiomodulation does not influence maturation and mildly improves functional healing of mouse achilles tendons.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2020
    Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Conservative Treatment of Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2019
    Review
  19. Article
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Steve TumiltyCentre for Health, Activity & Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. steve.tumilty@otago.ac.nz.
Ramikrishnan ManiCentre for Health, Activity & Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
George D BaxterCentre for Health, Activity & Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe common regime of eccentric exercise in use for Achilles tendinopathy is somewhat arduous and compliance issues can arise. This is the first study to investigate the effectiveness of a regime of fewer exercise sessions combined with photobiomodulation for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy.

methodsA double blind randomized controlled trial and intention-to-treat analysis were performed. Eighty participants, 18-65 years with Achilles tendinopathy and symptoms for longer than 3 months, were included in the trial. Participants randomized into one of four groups; 1 (Placebo + Ex Regime 1) or 2 (Laser + Ex Regime 1) or 3 (Placebo + Ex Regime 2) or 4 (Laser + Ex Regime 2). The primary outcome measure was the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire. Outcomes were collected at baseline, week 4 and week 12.

resultsSixteen participants were lost to follow-up at 12 weeks, 4 of which due to adverse reactions. As per intention to treat, missing data were imputed, 80 participants were included in the final analysis. For VISA-A at 12 weeks, group 4 achieved significant gains over the other 3 groups: group 1 (18.5 [9.1, 27.9]), group 2 (10.4 [1.5, 19.2]), group 3 (11.3 [3.0, 19.6]). There was a moderate effect size in favour of exercise twice per week (7.2 [-1.8, 16.2], ES .7).

conclusionsTwice-daily exercise sessions are not necessary as equivalent results can be obtained with two exercise sessions per week. The addition of photobiomodulation as adjunct to exercise can bring added benefit.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyLow-Level Light TherapyAchilles TendonAdolescentAdultAgedDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansLightMaleMiddle AgedSportsTendinopathyTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultDose responseExercise therapyLaser therapyRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID26610637

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

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.