From light to healing: photobiomodulation therapy in medical disciplines

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) represents a rapidly expanding area of translational research that bridges photophysics, mitochondrial biology, and clinical rehabilitation. It leverages low-level light to modulate cellular bioenergetics, inflammatory signaling, and tissue repair processes across various medical disciplines. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science to identify recent clinical and mechanistic studies on PBMT. The gathered evidence was analyzed to evaluate the influence of PBMT on cytochrome c oxidase-mediated energy transduction, reactive oxygen species modulation, nitric oxide signaling, and cytokine regulation. Results Current findings indicate that PBMT exerts multifaceted effects on metabolism and immune homeostasis. Clinical applications have expanded from dermatology and wound healing to musculoskeletal, neurological, ophthalmic, and oncologic conditions. PBMT shows potential for symptom alleviation, accelerated recovery, and tissue protection under oxidative or inflammatory stress. However, translation from preclinical evidence to consistent clinical outcomes remains constrained by non-standardized dosimetry, inconsistent energy delivery, and heterogeneous study endpoints. Negative or equivocal outcomes in trials involving trained or low-stress cohorts highlight the context-d

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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