Laser Therapy or photobiomodulation poses a breakthrough in medicine as it shows promising results in treating various health concerns, such as arthritis, muscle injury, and chronic pain. The idea of the brain’s positive responsiveness to light and the potential benefits of Laser Therapy has gained momentum in recent years.[1]
Due to this, photobiomodulation is becoming an appealing non-invasive method of brain stimulation. In this article, we discuss the efficacy of Laser Therapy in concussions or brain injury, including what research says on this matter.
What Is Laser Therapy?
In Laser Therapy, light is anatomically applied to a certain part of the body to stimulate cellular function and tissue regeneration. The specific wavelength of lasers, when used in the right way, has been proven to help repair tissues and reduce pain and inflammation.
The efficacy of Laser Therapy lies in the absorption of light by cells or chromophores in cells. This results in increased ATP production in the hypoxic cells and nitric oxide (NO) release, stimulating the body’s healing process. Light Therapy also has vasodilatory effects leading to increased blood flow.
Concussion And Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) poses a major health concern in the US. According to the CDC, it is a major cause of death and disability in the US, with 64,000 deaths in the year 2020.[2] A study done in 2020 revealed that 28.9% of adults reported a concussion in their lifetime.[3] While CDC reported that in 2020 6.8% of children demonstrated symptoms of a concussion in their lifetime.[4] Mild TBI or concussion can adversely affect a person’s health and well-being if the injury is serious.
Concussions can be caused by a blow to the head or violent shaking. They are a form of TBI and can lead to disruptions in consciousness for a brief period. Here are the potential effects of a concussion:
- Impaired cognitive function, such as memory and attention
- Weakness in lower extremities
- Impaired coordination and balance
The post-concussion symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, slurred speech, and seizures can last for a while. Photobiomodulation or transcranial low-level Laser Therapy (tLLLT) can help heal the brain quicker and improve cognitive functions by reducing headaches and swelling. tLLLT has cytoprotective effects which prevent the death of injured neurons and increase ant-inflammatory mediators which result in reduced inflammation and swelling.[5]
Since Laser Therapy has been proven to reduce pain and inflammation and speed up cellular regeneration and tissue repair, it can be effective in treating traumatic brain injury. It has been proven to increase neuroprotection and cerebral blood flow, helping the brain repair quickly.[6] It can also promote blood circulation and speed up the healing process and is found to be effective in enhancing neurocognitive performance.[7]
Laser Therapy And Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain injuries can produce long-term adverse effects on the brain and can lead to other neurodegenerative diseases. Low-Level Laser Therapy poses promising results by penetrating the neurological tissues and inducing anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow and cellular oxygenation.[8] This optimizes the mitochondrial function, leading to better cellular performance. Here are some other studies on the effectiveness of Laser Therapy in treating TBI and concussions.
- Increased Awareness with Improved Sensorimotor Functions
A study has shown significant improvements in awareness and wakefulness in comatose patients after the intervention of laser light, as patients were more responsive with improved sensorimotor functions.[9] Research has also demonstrated the positive effects of Light Therapy on neural oscillations just after one session.[10]
- Improved Post-Concussion Symptoms in Athletes
A series of studies have demonstrated how Light Therapy can be helpful in treating persistent post-concussion symptoms. One study found positive effects of light therapy on a hockey player that demonstrated post-concussion symptoms due to repetitive head impacts. [11]
Is Light Therapy Safe?
Laser Therapy devices use non-ionizing forms of energy. It is a non-invasive, pain-free method that has no known side effects. It is important to use an FDA-cleared device to minimize the potential for harm.
Laser is a promising avenue for the treatment of TBI or concussions, reducing the symptoms of TBI and concussion by improving neurocognitive behavior. With all of these scientifically-backed results, the medical community should begin to harness the benefits of tLLLT in treating traumatic brain injuries and concussions.
View Berman Partners’ collection of handheld lasers that have a 3-year warranty with FDA clearance. The light wavelength and duration can be customized. You can also go for an unattended Gigalaser or buy laser stands if you want to have an unattended setup. Feel free to contact us for more information.
Citations
[1] Salehpour, F. et al. Brain Photobiomodulation Therapy: a Narrative Review. Mol Neurobiol 55, 6601–6636, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-017-0852-4 (2018).
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Report to Congress on traumatic brain injury in the United States: Epidemiology and rehabilitationpdf icon. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2015.
[3] Daugherty J, DePadilla L, Sarmiento K, Breiding MJ. Self-Reported Lifetime Concussion Among Adults: Comparison of 3 Different Survey Questions. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2020 Mar/Apr;35(2):E136-E143. doi: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000534. PMID: 31479084; PMCID: PMC7048626.
[4] Black LI, Zablotsky B. Concussions and brain injuries in children: United States, 2020. NCHS Data Brief, no 423. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:111174external icon.
[5] Thunshelle C, Hamblin MR. Transcranial Low-Level Laser (Light) Therapy for Brain Injury. Photomed Laser Surg. 2016 Dec;34(12):587-598. doi: 10.1089/pho.2015.4051. PMID: 28001759; PMCID: PMC5180077.
[6] Hamblin MR. Photobiomodulation for traumatic brain injury and stroke. J Neurosci Res. 2018 Apr;96(4):731-743. doi: 10.1002/jnr.24190. Epub 2017 Nov 13. Erratum in: J Neurosci Res. 2019 Mar;97(3):373. PMID: 29131369; PMCID: PMC5803455.
[7] Huang YY, Gupta A, Vecchio D, de Arce VJ, Huang SF, Xuan W, Hamblin MR. Transcranial low level laser (light) therapy for traumatic brain injury. J Biophotonics. 2012 Nov;5(11-12):827-37. doi: 10.1002/jbio.201200077. Epub 2012 Jul 17. PMID: 22807422; PMCID: PMC5379852.
[8] Tian F, Hase SN, Gonzalez-Lima F, Liu H. Transcranial laser stimulation improves human cerebral oxygenation. Lasers Surg Med. 2016 Apr;48(4):343-9. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22471. Epub 2016 Jan 12. PMID: 26817446; PMCID: PMC5066697.
[9] Hesse, Stefan, Cordula Werner, and Manuela Byhahn. “Transcranial low-level laser therapy may improve alertness and awareness in traumatic brain injured subjects with severe disorders of consciousness: A case series.” International Archives of Medicine 8 (2015).
[10] Zomorrodi, R., Loheswaran, G., Pushparaj, A. et al. Pulsed Near Infrared Transcranial and Intranasal Photobiomodulation Significantly Modulates Neural Oscillations: a pilot exploratory study. Sci Rep 9, 6309 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42693-x
[11] Chao, L. L., Barlow, C., Karimpoor, M., & Lim, L. (2020). Changes in brain function and structure after self-administered home photobiomodulation treatment in a concussion case. Frontiers in neurology, 952. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2020.00952/full
