Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40741271›Full record

ReviewArchives of medical science : AMS2025

Impact of low-level laser therapy on upper limb lymphoedema secondary to breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hisham Mohamed Hussein, Ahmed Maher Mohamed Gabr, Ibtisam Abdallah Fadulelmulla, Ahmed Abdelmageed Aldemery, Mohamed Marzouk Mohamed Ragab, Amany Raafat Mohamed, Ibrahim Metwally Dewir, Ahmed Abdelmoniem Ibrahim

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Archives of medical science : AMS, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

8 authors.

Hisham Mohamed HusseinDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Aplied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed Maher Mohamed GabrDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Aplied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
Ibtisam Abdallah FadulelmullaDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed Abdelmageed AldemeryAhmed Foad Hospital, Egyptian Ministry of Health, Giza, Egypt.
Mohamed Marzouk Mohamed RagabDepartment of Basic Sciences for Physical Therapy, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Amany Raafat MohamedDepartment of Physical Therapy for Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Suez University, Suez, Egypt.
Ibrahim Metwally DewirDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed Abdelmoniem IbrahimDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Aplied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: This review analysed the efficiency of low-level laser therapy in treating breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) in women. Material and methods: Databases such as Scopus, PEDro, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched for RCTs using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photo-bio modulation therapy (PBMT) on BCRL published between 2010 and August 2023. Primary outcomes were arm circumference, volume, and hand grip strength, while secondary outcomes were pain, shoulder mobility, and quality of life. Results: Eleven RCTs with a total of 379 patients were analysed, and 8 studies were included for meta-analysis. We found no significant difference between laser-treated and control groups in any of the trials in terms of arm circumference, arm volume, grip strength, and quality of life post-intervention, and a significant difference between the groups in terms of pain intensity and shoulder mobility. Conclusions: This review revealed that low-level laser therapy (photobiostimulation) was successful in reducing arm circumference, volume, and pain, as well as enhancing grip strength, life quality, and mobility. However, the meta-analysis did not show any improvement except in pain and shoulder mobility. Further trials are required to assess the long- and short-term efficacy of LLLT in managing lymphoedema secondary to breast cancer.

Indexed as

breast cancerfunctionlaser therapylymphoedemapain

Identifiers

PMID40741271
PMCPMC12305524

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.