The following lists of articles and research that I’ve collected over the years are provided as a resource to clients and fellow therapists. Please click on the titles to link to any of the articles or research below.
Articles
Bright light therapy improves sleep disturbances in soldiers with combat PTSD, research finds | ScienceDaily
Glasses that shine green light could prevent insomnia in lung cancer patients | Respiratory Therapy
How does infrared therapy work? | News-Medical.net
How sunlight weakens your skin | NPR
Infrared therapy: Health benefits and risks | News-Medical.net
Light as medicine? Researchers explain how | ScienceDaily
Light therapy causes sharp drop in hospital infections | CBC Canada
Phototherapy (light therapy) | Cleveland Clinic
Red light therapy | Cleveland Clinic
Red light therapy: What is it? | Web MD
The miracle molecule you make with light | Shine with Light
What is an infrared sauna? Does it have health benefits? | Mayo Clinic
What is red light therapy and how does it work? | Healthline
Research
Adair, T., & Drum, B. (2016). RNA-Seq reveals changes in the Staphylococcus aureus transcriptome following blue light illumination. Genomics Data.
Agnol, M., Nicolau, R., de Lima, C., et al. (2009). Comparative analysis of coherent light action (laser) versus non-coherent light (light-emitting diode) for tissue repair in diabetic rats. Lasers in Medical Science.
Albarracin, R., Eells, J., & Valter, K. (2011). Photobiomodulation protects the retina from light-induced photoreceptor degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
Ammar, T. (2015). Monochromatic infrared photo energy versus low level laser therapy in chronic low back pain. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences.
Asagai, Y., Yamamoto, K., Ohshiro, T., et al (2014). Investigation regarding prevention of insufficiency fractures in children with severe cerebral palsy by light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation. Laser Therapy.
Avci, P., Gupta, A., Sadasivam, M., et al. (2013). Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.
Avci, P., Nyame, T., Gupta, G., et al. (2013). Low-level laser therapy for fat layer reduction: A comprehensive review. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Azeemi, S., & Raza, S. (2005). A critical analysis of chromotherapy and its scientific evolution. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Baek, W., Byun, I., Yun, I., et al. (2017). The effect of light-emitting diode (590/830 nm)-based low-level laser therapy on posttraumatic edema of facial bone fracture patients. Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery.
Beirne, K., Rozanowska, M., & Votruba, M. (2017). Photostimulation of mitochondria as a treatment for retinal neurodegeneration. Mitochondrion.
Bjordal, J., Lopes-Martins, R., Joensen, J., et al. (2010). The anti-inflammatory mechanism of low level laser therapy and its relevance for clinical use in physiotherapy. Physical Therapy Reviews.
Borsa, P., Larkin, K., & True, J. (2013). Does phototherapy enhance skeletal muscle contractile function and postexercise recovery? A systematic review. Journal of Athletic Training.
Bozer, C. (2023). Auricular chromotherapy in the management of chronic pain: Case series. Revista Internacional de Acupuntura.
Burland, M., Paris, L., Quintana, P., et al. (2015). Neurite growth acceleration of adult Dorsal Root Ganglion neurons illuminated by low-level light emitting diode light at 645 nm. Journal of Biophotonics.
Caetano, K., Frade, M., Minatel, D., et al. (2009). Phototherapy improves healing of chronic venous ulcers. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
Casalechi, H., Nicolau, R., Casalechi, V., et al. (2009). The effects of low-level light emitting diode on the repair process of Achilles tendon therapy in rats. Lasers in Medical Science.
Cepera, F., Torres, F., Scanavini, M., et al. (2012). Effect of a low-level laser on bone regeneration after rapid maxillary expansion. American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics.
Chabert, R., Fouque, L., Pinacolo, S., et al. (2015). Evaluation of light-emitting diodes (LED) effect on skin biology (in vitro study). Skin Research and Technology.
Cotler, H., Chow, R., Hamblin, M., et al. (2015). The use of low level laser therapy (LLLT) for musculoskeletal pain. MOJ Orthopedics & Rheumatology.
de Magalhaes, M., Nunez, S., Kato, I., et al. (2016). Light therapy modulates serotonin levels and blood flow in women with headache. A preliminary study. Experimental Biology and Medicine.
de Melo, C., Alves, A., Terena, S., et al. (2016). Light-emitting diode therapy increases collagen deposition during the repair process of skeletal muscle. Lasers in Medical Science.
de Oliveira, M., Johnson, D., Demchak, T., et al. (2022). Low-intensity LASER and LED (photobiomodulation therapy) for pain control of the most common musculoskeletal conditions. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.
de Paiva, P., Tomazoni, S., Johnson, D., et al. (2016). Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and/or cryotherapy in skeletal muscle restitution, what is better? A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lasers in Medical Science.
de Sousa, M., Kawakubo, M., Ferraresi, C., et al. (2018). Pain management using photobiomodulation: Mechanisms, location, and repeatability quantified by pain threshold and neural biomarkers in mice. Journal of Biophotonics.
Dong, T., Zhang, Q., Hamblin, M., et al. (2015). Low-level light in combination with metabolic modulators for effective therapy of injured brain. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism.
Dornelles, M., Fritsch, C., Sonda, F., et al. (2019). Photobiomodulation therapy as a tool to prevent hamstring strain injuries by reducing soccer-induced fatigue on hamstring muscles. Lasers in Medical Science.
Dungel, P., Hartinger, J., Chaudary, S., et al. (2014). Low level light therapy by LED of different wavelength induces angiogenesis and improves ischemic wound healing. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Eells, J., Gopalakrishnan, S., & Valter, K. (2016). Near-infrared photobiomodulation in retinal injury and disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.
Ferraresi, C., Bertucci, D., Schiavinato, J., et al. (2016). Effects of light-emitting diode therapy on muscle hypertrophy, gene expression, performance, damage, and delayed-onset muscle soreness: Case-control study with a pair of identical twins. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
Ferraresi, C., Dos Santos, R., Marques, G., et al. (2015). Light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) before matches prevents increase in creatine kinase with a light dose response in volleyball players. Lasers in Medical Science.
Ferraresi, C., Huang, Y., & Hamblin, M. (2016). Photobiomodulation in human muscle tissue: An advantage in sports performance? Journal of Biophotonics.
Fisher, S., Rigby, J., Mettler, J., et al. (2019). The effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy versus cryotherapy for skeletal muscle recovery: A critically appraised topic. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation.
Foley, J., Vasily, D., Bradle, J., et al. (2016). 830 nm light-emitting diode (led) phototherapy significantly reduced return-to-play in injured university athletes: A pilot study. Laser Therapy.
Glickman, G., Byrne, B., Pineda, C., et al. (2006). Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder with blue narrow-band light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Biological Psychiatry.
Goldberg, D., Amin, S., Russell, B., et al. (2006). Combined 633-nm and 830-nm led treatment of photoaging skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Hamblin, M. (2017). Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophysics.
Hamblin, M. (2018). Photobiomodulation for traumatic brain injury and stroke. Journal of Neuroscience Research.
Hancock, C., & Riegger-Krugh, C. (2008). Modulation of pain in osteoarthritis: The role of nitric oxide. . The Clinical Journal of Pain.
Heiler, S., Legenbauer, T., Bogen, T., et al. (2011). Severe mood dysregulation: in the “light” of circadian functioning. Medical Hypotheses.
Heiskanen, V., & Hamblin, M. (2018). Photobiomodulation: Lasers versus light emitting diodes? Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences.
Ho, D., Koo, E., Mamalis, A., et al. (2017). A systematic review of light emitting diode (LED) phototherapy for treatment of psoriasis: An emerging therapeutic modality. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Hwang, M., Shin, J., Kim, K., et al. (2015). Low level light therapy modulates inflammatory mediators secreted by human annulus fibrosus cells during intervertebral disc degeneration in vitro. Photochemistry and Photobiology.
Ishiguro, M., Ikeda, K., & Tomita, K. (2010). Effect of near-infrared light-emitting diodes on nerve regeneration. Journal of Orthopaedic Science.
Johnstone, D., Mitrofanis, J., & Stone, J. (2015). Targeting the body to protect the brain: Inducing neuroprotection with remotely-applied near infrared light. Neural Regeneration Research.
Junior, E., Lopes-Martins, R., Frigo, L., et al. (2010). Effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the development of exercise-induced skeletal muscle fatigue and changes in biochemical markers related to postexercise recovery. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
Keshri, G., Gupta, A., Yadav, A., et al. (2016). Photobiomodulation with pulsed and continuous wave near-infrared laser (810 nm, Al-Ga-As) augments dermal wound healing in immunosuppressed rats. PLOS One.
Kim, W., & Calderhead, R. (2011). Is light-emitting diode phototherapy (LED-LLLT) really effective? Laser Therapy.
Kobayashi, M., Kikuchi, D., & Okamura, H. (2009). Imaging of ultraweak spontaneous photon emission from human body displaying diurnal rhythm. PLOS One.
Konig, A., Missalla, S., Valesky, E., et al. (2018). Effect of near-infrared photobiomodulation therapy in a cellular wound healing model. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine.
Lanzafame, R., Blanche, R., Chiacchierini, R., et al. (2014). The growth of human scalp hair in females using visible red light laser and LED sources. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Lee, S., Park, K., Choi, J., et al. (2007). A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, and split-face clinical study on LED phototherapy for skin rejuvenation: Clinical, profilometric, histologic, ultrastructural, and biochemical evaluations and comparison of three different treatment settings. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology.
Li, K., Zhang, Z., Liu, N., et al. (2017). Efficacy and safety of far infrared radiation in lymphedema treatment: Clinical evaluation and laboratory analysis. Lasers in Medical Science.
Li, Y., Dong, Y., Yang, L., et al. (2021). Photobiomodulation prevents PTSD-like memory impairments in rats. Molecular Psychiatry.
Lim, W., Lee, S., Kim I., et al. (2007). The anti‐inflammatory mechanism of 635 nm light‐emitting‐diode irradiation compared with existing COX inhibitors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Litscher, D., Wang, J., Litscher, G., et al. (2018). Gender differences in laser acupuncture — Results of a crossover study with green and yellow laser at the ear point Shenmen. Medicines.
Lohr, N., Keszler, A., Pratt, P., et al. (2009). Enhancement of nitric oxide release from nitrosyl hemoglobin and nitrosyl myoglobin by red/near infrared radiation: Potential role in cardioprotection. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology.
Macias, D., Coughlin, M., Zang, K. (2015). Low-level laser therapy at 635 nm for treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis: A placebo-controlled, randomized study. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Martin, L., Patwardhan, A., Jain, S., et al. (2020). Evaluation of green light exposure on headache frequency and quality of life in migraine patients: A preliminary one-way cross-over clinical trial. Cephalalgia.
Martins, D., Turnesa, B., Cidral-Filhoa, F., et al. (2016). Light-emitting diode therapy reduces persistent inflammatory pain: Role of interleukin 10 and antioxidant enzymes. Neuroscience.
Matsumoto, N., Yoshikawa, K., Shimada, M., et al. (2014). Effect of light irradiation by light emitting diode on colon cancer cells. Anticancer Research.
Minatel, D., Frade, M., França, S., et al. (2009). Phototherapy promotes healing of chronic diabetic leg ulcers that failed to respond to other therapies. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Mitchell, U. (2011). Nondrug-related aspect of treating Ekbom disease, formerly known as restless legs syndrome. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.
Mitrofanis, J. (2017). Why and how does light therapy offer neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease? Neural Regeneration Research.
Muehsam, D., & Ventura, C. (2014). Life rhythm as a symphony of oscillatory patterns: Electromagnetic energy and sound vibration modulates gene expression for biological signaling and healing. Global Advances in Health and Medicine.
Myakishev-Rempel, M., Stadler, I., Brondon, P., et al. (2012). A preliminary study of the safety of red light phototherapy of tissues harboring cancer. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
Naeser, M., Saltmarche, A., Krengel, M., et al. (2010). Improved cognitive function after transcranial, light-emitting diode treatments in chronic, traumatic brain injury: Two case reports. (Abstract) Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
Nizamutdinov, D., Ezeudu, C., Wu, E., et al. (2022). Transcranial near-infrared light in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Frontiers in Pharmacology.
Oliveira, D., de Oliveira, R., Zangaro, R., et al. (2008). Evaluation of low-level laser therapy of osteoblastic cells. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
Oshima, Y., Coutts, R., Badlani, N., et al. (2011). Effect of light-emitting diode (LED) therapy on the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in a rabbit model. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.
Panhoca, V., Lizarelli, R., Nunez, S., et al. (2015). Comparative clinical study of light analgesic effect on temporomandibular disorder (TMD) using red and infrared led therapy. Lasers in Medical Science.
Paolillo, F., Corazza, A., Paolillo, A., et al. (2014). Phototherapy during treadmill training improves quadriceps performance in postmenopausal women. Climacteric.
Pfaff, S., Liebmann, J., Born, M., et al. (2015). Prospective randomized long-term study on the efficacy and safetly of UV-free blue light for treating mild psoriasis vulgaris. Dermatology.
Pigatto, G., Quinteiro, M., Nunes-de-Souza, R., et al. (2020). Low-intensity photobiomodulation decreases neuropathic pain in paw ischemia-reperfusion and spared nervus ischiadicus injury experimental models. Pain Practice.
Pinheiro, A., Soares, L., Barbosa, A., et al. (2012). Does LED phototherapy influence the repair of bone defects grafted with MTA, bone morphogenetic proteins, and guided bone regeneration? A description of the repair process on rodents. Lasers in Medical Science.
Pinheiro, A., Soares, L., Cangussu, M., et al. (2012).
Effects of LED phototherapy on bone defects grafted with MTA, bone morphogenetic proteins and guided bone regeneration: A Raman spectroscopic study. Lasers in Medical Science.
Pitzschke, A., Lovisa, B., Seydoux, O., et al. (2015). Red and NIR light dosimetry in the human deep brain. Physics in Medicine and Biology.
Poyton, R., & Ball, K. (2011). Therapeutic photobiomodulation: Nitric oxide and a novel function of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase. Discovery Medicine.
Qu, X., Liu, H., Yang, Y. et al. (2021). The effects of laser stimulation at acupoint ST36 on anxiety-like behaviors and anterior cingulate cortex c-Fos expression in a rat post-traumatic stress disorder model. Lasers in Medical Science.
Rosa, C., Habib, F., de Araujo, T., et al. (2014). Effect of the laser and light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy on midpalatal suture bone formation after rapid maxilla expansion: A Raman spectroscopy analysis. Lasers in Medical Science.
Romeo, S., Vitale, F., Viaggi, C., et al. (2017). Fluorescent light induces neurodegeneration in the rodent nigrostriatal system but near infrared LED light does not. Brain Research.
Russell, B., Kellett, N., & Reilly, L. (2005). A study to determine the efficacy of combination LED light therapy (633 nm and 830 nm) in facial skin rejuvenation. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy.
Rybak, Y., McNeely, H., Mackenzie, B., et al. (2006). An open trial of light therapy in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Saklecha, P., Kishan, K., & Savaliya, K. (2022). Effect of chromotherapy on the anxiety level in the patients undergoing endodontic treatment: A randomized clinical study. Journal of Conservative Dentistry.
Schwartz, R., & Olds, J. (2015). The psychiatry of light. Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya, O., Abdurashitov, A., Dubrovsky, A., et al. (2020). Photobiomodulation of lymphatic drainage and clearance: perspective strategy for augmentation of meningeal lymphatic functions. Biomedical Optics Express.
Sene-Fiorese, M., Duarte, F., de Aquino Junior, A., et al. (2015). The potential of phototherapy to reduce body fat, insulin resistance and “metabolic inflexibility” related to obesity in women undergoing weight loss treatment. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Sloane, P., Figueiro, M., & Cohen, L. (2008). Light as therapy for sleep disorders and depression in older adults. Clinical Geriatrics.
Song, C., Luchtman, D., Kang, Z., et al. (2015). Enhanced inflammatory and T-helper-1 type responses but suppressed lymphocyte proliferation in patients with seasonal affective disorder and treated by light therapy. Journal of Affective Disorders.
Syed, S., Ahmet, I., Chakir, K., et al. (2023). Photobiomodulation therapy mitigates cardiovascular aging and improves survival. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Tartar, D., Bhutani, T., Huynh, M., et al. (2014). Update on the immunological mechanism of action behind phototherapy. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Trelles, M. (2006). Phototherapy in anti-aging and its photobiologic basics: a new approach to skin rejuvenation. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Trevor, S., Travis, M., & Steve, S. (2021). Two randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of red 635 nm low level laser for the treatment of low back pain. Orthopedics and Rheumatology Open Access Journal.
Tsai, S., & Hamblin, M. (2017). Biological effects and medical applications of infrared radiation. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology.
Vanin, A., De Marchi, T., Tomazoni, S., et al. (2016). Pre-exercise infrared low-level laser therapy (810 nm) in skeletal muscle performance and postexercise recovery in humans, what is the optimal dose? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
Vanin, A., Verhagen, E., Barboza, S., et al. (2018). Photobiomodulation therapy for the improvement of muscular performance and reduction of muscular fatigue associated with exercise in healthy people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers in Medical Science.
Vinck, E., Coorevits, P., Cagnie, B., et al. (2005). Evidence of changes in sural nerve conduction mediated by light emitting diode irradiation. Lasers in Medical Science.
Wang, Y., Huang, Y., Wang, Y., et al. (2016). Photobiomodulation (blue and green light) encourages osteoblastic-differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells: role of intracellular calcium and light-gated ion channels. Scientific Reports.
Weinrich, T., Coyne, A., Salt, T., et al. (2017). Improving mitochondrial function significantly reduces metabolic, visual, motor and cognitive decline in aged Drosophila melanogaster. Neurobiology of Aging.
Weiss, R., Weiss, M., Geronemus, R., et al. (2004). A novel non-thermal non-ablative full panel LED photomodulation device for reversal of photoaging: digital microscopic and clinical results in various skin types. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Yin, R., Dai, T., Avci, P., et al. (2013). Light based anti-infectives: Ultraviolet C irradiation, photodynamic therapy, blue light, and beyond. Current Opinion in Pharmacology.
Yoshimura, T., Sabino, C., & Ribeiro, M. (2016). Photobiomodulation reduces abdominal adipose tissue inflammatory infiltrate of diet-induced obese and hyperglycemic mice. Journal of Biophotonics.
Zhang, R., & Qu, J. (2023). The mechanisms and efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy for arthritis: A comprehensive review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Zigmond, E., Varol, C., Kaplan, M., et al. (2014). Low-level light therapy induces mucosal healing in a murine model of dextran-sodium-sulfate induced colitis. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
Additional Research
Acupressure Research
Auriculotherapy Research
Grounding Research
Lymphatic Research
Massage Research
Phototherapy Research
Reflexology Research
Reiki Research