title: Effects of low-level laser therapy on skeletal muscle repair: a systematic review.
abstract: A review of the literature was performed to demonstrate the most current applicability of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of skeletal muscle injuries, addressing different lasers, irradiation parameters, and treatment results in animal models. Searches were performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and SPIE Digital Library databases for studies published from January 2006 to August 2013 on the use of LLLT for the repair of skeletal muscle in any animal model. All selected articles were critically appraised by two independent raters. Seventeen of the 36 original articles on LLLT and muscle injuries met the inclusion criteria and were critically evaluated. The main effects of LLLT were a reduction in the inflammatory process, the modulation of growth factors and myogenic regulatory factors, and increased angiogenesis. The studies analyzed demonstrate the positive effects of LLLT on the muscle repair process, which are dependent on irradiation and treatment parameters. The findings suggest that LLLT is an excellent therapeutic resource for the treatment of skeletal muscle injuries in the short-term.
authors.affiliation: From the Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences (ANA, KPSF, SKB, RAM-F) and Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences (KPSF, AMD, RAM-F), Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Agnelo Neves
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Kristianne Porta Santos
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Alessandro Melo
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Deana
authors.forename: Sandra Kalil
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bussadori
authors.forename: Raquel Agnelli
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mesquita-Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000528:radiation effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*