title: Changes in tissue water and indentation resistance of lymphedematous limbs accompanying low level laser therapy (LLLT) of fibrotic skin.
abstract: Our goal was to determine effects of low-level-laser-therapy (LLLT) on skin water and tissue indentation resistance (TIR) in patients with arm (N = 38) or leg (N = 38) lymphedema. Skin water was determined from tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements and TIR determined from measurements of force resulting from tissue indentations of 3-4 mm. A limb-location with fibrosis was identified by palpation and treated with an LLLT device for one minute at each of five points within a 3 cm2 area. TDC and TIR at these sites and corresponding sites on the contralateral limb were measured prior to LLLT (pre-LLLT), immediately after LLLT (post-LLLT) and after a manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) session (post-MLD). Results, from arms and legs, showed that post-LLLT values of TIR and TDC were significantly less than pre-LLLT. TIR values remained significantly reduced at post-MLD whereas TDC values were not significantly different from pre-LLLT values. On follow-up visit, 17 previously LLLT treated legs were sham treated with an inactive LLLT unit and measurements replicated. A TIR and TDC change-pattern similar to that obtained with the active LLLT was obtained, but sham-related reductions in TIR and TDC immediately post sham-treatment were significantly less than achieved with the prior active LLLT treatment.
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33328, USA. mayrovit@nova.edu
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Mayrovitz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*