title: Effects of the Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in the process of healing diabetic foot ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of the low-level laser therapy applying Laser on the tissue repair in ulcer carriers due to diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen type II diabetic patients, ulcer carriers in the lower limbs, participated in the research from which eight were in the control group and eight were submitted to the low-level laser therapy with a pulsed wave form, visible ray, wave length of 632.8 nm, 30 mW peak power, (Laser - HTM). The application time was of 80 (4J/cm2) seconds. The application was punctual without contact (approximately 1mm of distance), the pen being held in a perpendicular position related to the wound, in equidistant points. There were 12 appointments, of which three were done weekly in alternated days. Photograph records and an application of the brief inventory of pain were done before and after 30 days of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant decrease in the size of the wound when compared to the control group (p<0.05). The pain was also reported as having an intense improvement in the treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low-level laser treatment seems to be an efficient method, viable, painless and of low costs concerning the tissue repair ulcers in a diabetic foot.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maura Cristina Porto
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Feitosa
authors.affiliation: UNIVAP, Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Flávia Machado de
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Hospital Getúlio Vargas, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valrian Campos
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Feitosa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabely Madalena
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: UNIVAP, Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rauirys Alencar de
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: UNIVAP, Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emília Ângela Loschiavo
authors.initials: EÂ
authors.lastname: Arisawa
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride