Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Neurological Sciences 10/2021

01-10-2021 | Nerve Injury | Review Article

Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in nerve injury repair—a new era in therapeutic agents and regenerative treatments

Authors: Xellen Cunha Muniz, Ana Carolina Correa de Assis, Bruna Stefane Alves de Oliveira, Luiz Fernando Romanholo Ferreira, Muhammad Bilal, Hafiz M. N. Iqbal, Renato Nery Soriano

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 10/2021

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Traumatic nerve injuries may result in severe motor dysfunctions. Although the microenvironment of peripheral axons favors their regeneration, regenerative process is not always successful.

Purpose

We reviewed and discussed the main findings obtained with low-level laser therapy (LLLT), a therapeutic intervention that has been employed in order to achieve an optimized regeneration process in peripheral axons.

Scope

Disseminating the best available evidence for the effectiveness of this therapeutic strategy can potentially improve the statistics of success in the clinical treatment of nerve injuries. We found evidence that LLLT optimizes the regeneration of peripheral axons, improving motor function, especially in animal models. Nonetheless, further clinical evidence is still needed before LLLT can be strongly recommended. Although the results are promising, the elucidation of the mechanisms of action and safety assessment are necessary to support highquality clinical studies.

Conclusion

The present careful compilation of findings with consistent pro-regenerative evidence and published in respected scientific journals can be valuable for health professionals and researchers in the field, possibly contributing to achieve more promising results in future randomized controlled trials and interventions, providing better prognosis for clinical practice.
Literature
3.
go back to reference Coleman M (2005) Axon degeneration mechanisms: commonality amid diversity. Nat Rev Neurosci 6:889–898CrossRef Coleman M (2005) Axon degeneration mechanisms: commonality amid diversity. Nat Rev Neurosci 6:889–898CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Freeman MR (2014) Signaling mechanisms regulating Wallerian degeneration. Curr Opin Neurobiol 27:224–231CrossRef Freeman MR (2014) Signaling mechanisms regulating Wallerian degeneration. Curr Opin Neurobiol 27:224–231CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Weerasuriya A, Mizisin AP (2011) The blood-nerve barrier: structure and functional significance. Methods Mol Biol 686:149–173CrossRef Weerasuriya A, Mizisin AP (2011) The blood-nerve barrier: structure and functional significance. Methods Mol Biol 686:149–173CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Zigmond RE, Echevarria FD (2019) Macrophage biology in the peripheral nervous system after injury. Prog Neurobiol 173:102–121CrossRef Zigmond RE, Echevarria FD (2019) Macrophage biology in the peripheral nervous system after injury. Prog Neurobiol 173:102–121CrossRef
9.
go back to reference Bosse F (2012) Extrinsic cellular and molecular mediators of peripheral axonal regeneration. Cell Tissue Res 349:5–14CrossRef Bosse F (2012) Extrinsic cellular and molecular mediators of peripheral axonal regeneration. Cell Tissue Res 349:5–14CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Smith TP, Sahoo PK, Kar AN, Twiss JL (2020) Intra-axonal mechanisms driving axon regeneration. Brain Res 1740:146864CrossRef Smith TP, Sahoo PK, Kar AN, Twiss JL (2020) Intra-axonal mechanisms driving axon regeneration. Brain Res 1740:146864CrossRef
11.
14.
go back to reference Gigo-Benato D, Geuna S, Rochkind S (2005) Phototherapy for enhancing peripheral nerve repair: a review of the literature. Muscle Nerve 31:694–701CrossRef Gigo-Benato D, Geuna S, Rochkind S (2005) Phototherapy for enhancing peripheral nerve repair: a review of the literature. Muscle Nerve 31:694–701CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Shin DH, Lee E, Hyun JK et al (2003) Growth-associated protein-43 is elevated in the injured rat sciatic nerve after low power laser irradiation. Neurosci Lett 344:71–74CrossRef Shin DH, Lee E, Hyun JK et al (2003) Growth-associated protein-43 is elevated in the injured rat sciatic nerve after low power laser irradiation. Neurosci Lett 344:71–74CrossRef
19.
go back to reference Karu TI (2008) Mitochondrial signaling in mammalian cells activated by red and near-IR radiation. Photochem Photobiol 84:1091–1099CrossRef Karu TI (2008) Mitochondrial signaling in mammalian cells activated by red and near-IR radiation. Photochem Photobiol 84:1091–1099CrossRef
29.
go back to reference Ezzati K, Laakso EL, Saberi A, YousefzadehChabok S, Nasiri E, BakhshayeshEghbali B (2020) A comparative study of the dose-dependent effects of low level and high intensity photobiomodulation (laser) therapy on pain and electrophysiological parameters in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 56(6):733–740. https://doi.org/10.23736/S1973-9087.19.05835-0CrossRefPubMed Ezzati K, Laakso EL, Saberi A, YousefzadehChabok S, Nasiri E, BakhshayeshEghbali B (2020) A comparative study of the dose-dependent effects of low level and high intensity photobiomodulation (laser) therapy on pain and electrophysiological parameters in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 56(6):733–740. https://​doi.​org/​10.​23736/​S1973-9087.​19.​05835-0CrossRefPubMed
37.
41.
Metadata
Title
Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in nerve injury repair—a new era in therapeutic agents and regenerative treatments
Authors
Xellen Cunha Muniz
Ana Carolina Correa de Assis
Bruna Stefane Alves de Oliveira
Luiz Fernando Romanholo Ferreira
Muhammad Bilal
Hafiz M. N. Iqbal
Renato Nery Soriano
Publication date
01-10-2021
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Neurological Sciences / Issue 10/2021
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05478-7

Other articles of this Issue 10/2021

Neurological Sciences 10/2021 Go to the issue