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Background <p>Chronic musculoskeletal pain affects approximately 20% of the adult population globally. The current systematic review evaluated clinical trials of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for musculoskeletal pain, combining the evidence from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (January 2000 to March 2025). PBMT, also known as low-level laser therapy, uses low-intensity light in the red to near-infrared spectrum (600–1000&#xa0;nm).</p> Methods <p>Randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, and comparative cohorts that reported quantitative pain or functional outcomes were eligible. Treatment parameter, study design, and efficacy data were extracted and summarized.</p> Results <p>Fifty-three studies (<i>n</i> ≈ 2,800 patients) were included. Most PBMT protocols used red to near-infrared light (630–904&#xa0;nm) with energy densities between 4 and 100&#xa0;J/cm<sup>2</sup>. In the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, low back pain, and postoperative pain, PBMT decreased mean visual analog scale (VAS) pain by 32% (range 28–40%) compared with sham and improved function scores (WOMAC, ODI, NDI) being decreased by 18–25%. Prehabilitative PBMT decreased postoperative pain by 18% and sped recovery by 10 days. As a supplement to exercise therapy, PBMT improved strength outcomes by 25% and decreased delayed-onset muscle soreness by 30%. Home-based PBMT showed 85% compliance with 22% VAS pain reduction at 12 weeks. No serious adverse events were reported.</p> Conclusions <p>PBMT is an effective and safe adjuvant in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with significant pain relief and functional improvement. Standardized dosimetry, incorporation into multimodal pathways, and health economic studies are required to optimize protocols and facilitate wider clinical use.</p>

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Photobiomodulation therapy in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, mechanisms, clinical evidence, and integrated protocols: a systematic review

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月8日

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  • Zahra A. L. Timimi,
  • Bashir Gide,
  • Zeina J. M. Tamimi

摘要

Background

Chronic musculoskeletal pain affects approximately 20% of the adult population globally. The current systematic review evaluated clinical trials of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for musculoskeletal pain, combining the evidence from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (January 2000 to March 2025). PBMT, also known as low-level laser therapy, uses low-intensity light in the red to near-infrared spectrum (600–1000 nm).

Methods

Randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, and comparative cohorts that reported quantitative pain or functional outcomes were eligible. Treatment parameter, study design, and efficacy data were extracted and summarized.

Results

Fifty-three studies (n ≈ 2,800 patients) were included. Most PBMT protocols used red to near-infrared light (630–904 nm) with energy densities between 4 and 100 J/cm2. In the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, low back pain, and postoperative pain, PBMT decreased mean visual analog scale (VAS) pain by 32% (range 28–40%) compared with sham and improved function scores (WOMAC, ODI, NDI) being decreased by 18–25%. Prehabilitative PBMT decreased postoperative pain by 18% and sped recovery by 10 days. As a supplement to exercise therapy, PBMT improved strength outcomes by 25% and decreased delayed-onset muscle soreness by 30%. Home-based PBMT showed 85% compliance with 22% VAS pain reduction at 12 weeks. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions

PBMT is an effective and safe adjuvant in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with significant pain relief and functional improvement. Standardized dosimetry, incorporation into multimodal pathways, and health economic studies are required to optimize protocols and facilitate wider clinical use.