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Fluence-dependent effects of low-level laser therapy in myofascial trigger spots on modulation of biochemicals associated with pain in a rabbit model

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Abstract

Evidence strongly supports that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is an effective physical modality for the treatment of pain associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrP). However, the effect of laser fluence (energy intensity in J/cm2) on biochemical regulation related to pain is unclear. To better understand the biochemical mechanisms modulated by high- and low-fluence LLLT at myofascial trigger spots (MTrSs; similar to human MTrPs) in skeletal muscles of rabbits, the levels of β-endorphin (β-ep), substance P (SP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were investigated in this study. New Zealand rabbits (2.5–3.0 kg in weight) were used in this study. High-fluence LLLT (27 J/cm2), low-fluence LLLT (4.5 J/cm2), or sham operations were applied on MTrSs of biceps femoris of rabbits for five sessions (one session per day). Effects of LLLT at two different fluences on biceps femoris, dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and serum were determined by β-ep, SP, TNF-α, and COX-2 immunoassays. LLLT irradiation with fluences of 4.5 and 27 J/cm2 at MTrSs can significantly reduce SP level in DRG. LLLT with lower fluence of 4.5 J/cm2 exerted lower levels of TNF-α and COX-2 expression in laser-treated muscle, but LLLT with higher fluence of 27 J/cm2 elevated the levels of β-ep in serum, DRG, and muscle. This study demonstrated fluence-dependent biochemical effects of LLLT in an animal model on management of myofascial pain. The findings can contribute to the development of dosage guideline for LLLT for treating MTrP-induced pain.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants of National Science Council (NSC 101-2314-B039-003-MY2, NSC 101-2314-B241-001), Cheng Ching Hospital and China Medical University (CMU-101-S-35), Taiwan.

Conflict of interest

No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 40402

    Yueh-Ling Hsieh & Shun-An Yang

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, 43302

    Chang-Zern Hong

  3. School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 40402

    Li-Wei Chou

  4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, 40402

    Li-Wei Chou

  5. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cheng Ching General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, 42743

    Chen-Chia Yang

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  1. Yueh-Ling Hsieh
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Correspondence to Yueh-Ling Hsieh or Chen-Chia Yang.

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Hsieh, YL., Hong, CZ., Chou, LW. et al. Fluence-dependent effects of low-level laser therapy in myofascial trigger spots on modulation of biochemicals associated with pain in a rabbit model. Lasers Med Sci 30, 209–216 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-014-1654-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-014-1654-9

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