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1533176 
Journal Article 
Review 
The Nuts and Bolts of Low-level Laser (Light) Therapy 
Chung, H; Dai, T; Sharma, SK; Huang, YY; Carroll, JD; Hamblin, MR 
2012 
Yes 
Annals of Biomedical Engineering
ISSN: 0090-6964
EISSN: 1573-9686 
40 
2 
516-533 
English 
22045511 
WOS:000300485100019 
Soon after the discovery of lasers in the 1960s it was
realized that laser therapy had the potential to improve wound healing and reduce pain,
inflammation and swelling. In recent years the field sometimes known as photobiomodulation has
broadened to include light-emitting diodes and other light sources, and the range of wavelengths
used now includes many in the red and near infrared. The term ""low level laser therapy"" or LLLT
has become widely recognized and implies the existence of the biphasic dose response or the
Arndt-Schulz curve. This review will cover the mechanisms of action of LLLT at a cellular and at
a tissular level and will summarize the various light sources and principles of dosimetry that
are employed in clinical practice. The range of diseases, injuries, and conditions that can be
benefited by LLLT will be summarized with an emphasis on those that have reported randomized
controlled clinical trials. Serious life-threatening diseases such as stroke, heart attack,
spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury may soon be amenable to LLLT therapy. 
Low level laser therapy; Photobiomodulation; Mitochondria; Tissue optics; Wound healing; Hair regrowth; Laser acupuncture