What is Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT)?

Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) is the best technical term for Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT).

It is a light therapy using lasers or LEDs to improve tissue repair, reduce pain and inflammation wherever the beam is applied. Usually applied by a doctor, therapist or technician, treatments take about 10 minutes and should be applied two or more times a week.

Photobiomodulation has been used for many years on sports injuries, arthritic joints, neuropathic pain syndromes, back and neck pain. Over 700 randomised clinical trials have been published on Photobiomodulation, half of which are on pain.

THOR customers include British and US military, Premier Division soccer teams, Olympic teams, Formula 1, rugby and cricket team therapists as well as specialist pain clinics in the UK and USA.

The progress of Photobiomodulation Therapy towards mainstream acceptance

• 2023 - FDA Issues guidance on Photobiomodulation for industry. Click Here
• 2023 - ADA technical report encouraging the use of PBM. Click Here
• 2022 - COG Strong recommendation, high-quality evidence Oral Mucositis for Photobiomodulation. Click Here
• 2022 - CDC Guidelines for Noninvasive Nonpharmacologic Approaches to Low Back Pain includes PBM. Click Here
• 2021 - Assoc of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) PBM significant immediate pain relief and improved function for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Click Here
• 2021 - JAMA PBM is an option for low back pain lasting more than 12 weeks. Click Here
• 2020 - Aetna and HCSC consider PBM medically necessary for select patients Oral Mucositis. Click Here
• 2019 - BMJ Systematic review and meta-analysis PBM significantly reduces pain and disability in Knee osteoarthritis. Click Here
• 2019 - Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) guidelines recommend PBM treatment for the prevention of oral mucositis. Click here
• 2018 - National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance for the UK NHS recommends laser therapy for oral mucositis. Click here
• 2017 - UK NIHR funded RCT on the Clinical and Cost Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the Management of Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Irradiation, 10 NHS hospitals, 380 patients in progress. Click here
• 2017 - Low Level Laser improves survival of head and neck cancer patients. Click here
• 2017 - American College of Physicians Guidelines include a "strong recommendation" for Low-Level Laser Therapy as a non-invasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute & Chronic Low Back Pain. Click here
• 2016 - BMJ PBM for chronic non-specific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials found "moderate quality of evidence" and "clinically important benefits" in the short term. Click here
• 2014 - 30% reduction of the costs of hospitalisation in PBM Oral Mucositis patients. Click here
• 2014 - MASCC guideline revisions recommend use of PBM to reduce the incidence and severity of Oral Mucositis. Click Here.
• 2013 - Journal Applied Oral Science.  TMJ Systematic review  "it seems clear that the use of laser brings benefits when properly applied and administered". Click Here.
• 2012 - Multinational Association for Supportive Cancer Care (MASSC) systematic review recommends PBM for oral mucositis. Click here
• 2011 - European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) systematic review suggest PBM for reducing duration and severity of oral mucositis. Click here
• 2011 - British Medical Journal (BMJ) Clinical Guidelines for tennis elbow "Likely to be beneficial for short-term pain relief & improvement of function". Click here
• 2010 - The International Association for the Study of Pain (Global Task Force on musculoskeletal pain) recommend laser for myofascial pain syndrome. Click here
• 2010 - British Journal of Sports Medicine, systematic review of surgical and conservative interventions for frozen shoulder found "strong evidence" for PBM. Click here 
• 2010 - American Physical Therapy Association guidelines recommend PBM for Achilles tendonitis. Click here
• 2009 - The Lancet "PBM reduces pain immediately after treatment in acute neck pain and for up to 22 weeks in patients with chronic neck pain". Click here
• 2008 - World Health Organisation (Bone and Joint Task Force) recommended PBM for neck pain. Click Here

THOR Photobiomodulation Newsletter (See previous edition)

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