Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Jun;37(4):2135-2144.
doi: 10.1007/s10103-021-03443-6. Epub 2022 Mar 4.

Effects of photobiomodulation and deep water running in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

Daniele Mayumi Kurata Nardin  1 , Marieli Ramos Stocco  2 , Andreo Fernando Aguiar  1 , Fabiana Andrade Machado  3 , Raphael Gonçalves de Oliveira  1 , Rodrigo Antonio Carvalho Andraus  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of photobiomodulation and deep water running in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

Daniele Mayumi Kurata Nardin et al. Lasers Med Sci. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) is often used to treat musculoskeletal disorders such as chronic non-specific low back pain (NSCLBP) as it can have positive effects on biomarkers-creatine kinase (CK) and serum cortisol levels-related to stress caused by physical exercise, such as deep water running (DWR) or by pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the combination of PBM and aquatic exercise (DWR) on the intensity of pain, disability, 6-min walk test adapted (6WTA), and on cortisol and creatine kinase (CK) levels in a population with NSCLBP. The participants were allocated into three groups: TGPBM (Photobiomodulation and Training Group), TGPLA (Placebo Photobiomodulation and Training Group), and the GPBM (Photobiomodulation Group). Information regarding anthropometric data, blood pressure, and heart rate were collected, and the questionnaires were applied: IPAQ-Short Form, Oswestry Disability Index, and the Visual Analog Scale for Pain. The submaximal exercise test (6WTA) was performed. Blood was collected for analysis of cortisol and CK levels. The training sessions were performed twice a week, for 4 weeks. In the intragroup comparisons, there were statistically significant changes in the TGPBM and GPBM groups in the outcomes pain intensity, disability (reductions in both groups), and in cortisol (increased in the TGPBM and reduced in the GPBM); in the TGPLA group, there was a statistically significant reduction only in the outcome of pain intensity. In the intergroup comparison, in the comparison between TGPBM and TGPLA, there was a statistically significant difference in the level of cortisol, as well as in the comparison between TGPBM and GPBM, in which there was a statistically significant difference for this same outcome (cortisol) and for the 6WTA outcome. The effects of the combination of PBM and aquatic exercise have positive effects on reducing pain intensity, disability, and cortisol levels, but its effects on other variables (6WTA and CK) are too small to be considered significant. Trial registration number: NCT03465228-April 3, 2019; retrospectively registered (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Keywords: Exercise therapy; Laser therapy; Low back pain; Phototherapy.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Lin YP, Su YH, Chin SF, Chou YC, Chia WT (2020) Light-emitting diode photobiomodulation therapy for non-specific low back pain in working nurses: a single-center, double-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Medicine 99(32):e21611. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000021611 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Zanou N, Gailly P (2013) Skeletal muscle hypertrophy and regeneration: interplay between the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) pathways. Cell Molec Life Sci: CMLS 70(21):4117–4130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-013-1330-4 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Assis L, Moretti AI, Abrahão TB, de Souza HP, Hamblin MR, Parizotto NA (2013) Low-level laser therapy (808 nm) contributes to muscle regeneration and prevents fibrosis in rat tibialis anterior muscle after cryolesion. Lasers Med Sci 28(3):947–955. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-012-1183-3 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Zagatto AM, Dutra YM, Lira FS, Antunes BM, Faustini JB, Malta ES, Lopes V, de Poli R, Brisola G, Dos Santos GV, Rodrigues FM, Ferraresi C (2020) Full body photobiomodulation therapy to induce faster muscle recovery in water polo athletes: preliminary results. Photobiomodul Photomedicine Laser Surg 38(12):766–772. https://doi.org/10.1089/photob.2020.4803 - DOI
    1. Huang Z, Ma J, Chen J, Shen B, Pei F, Kraus VB (2015) The effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for nonspecific chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arthritis Res Ther 17:360. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-015-0882-0 - DOI - PubMed - PMC

Publication types

Associated data