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African Journal of Biomedical Research
Ibadan Biomedical Communications Group
ISSN: 1119-5096
Vol. 10, No. 2, 2007, pp. 99-109
Bioline Code: md07014
Full paper language: English
Document type: Review Article
Document available free of charge

African Journal of Biomedical Research, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2007, pp. 99-109

 en Phototherapy - a treatment modality for wound healing and pain relief
Hawkins, Denise & Abrahamse, Heidi

Abstract

When applied properly, phototherapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has proved to be very efficient in relieving pain and improving wound healing. However, until recently there has been a lack of scientific scrutiny concerning the clinical efficacy of this procedure. This does not mean that phototherapy does not work. A search for “laser” and “therapy” on the ISI Web of Knowledge database reported that the USA accounts for 35.69% of the research material while only 18 papers were reported from South Africa (1987-2006) which accounts for 0.17% of the 10 652 papers analyzed. Despite the lack of scientific research, clinical results have been exceptional. Clinicians around the world, based on their professional experiences, confirm the analgesic effect of phototherapy. Unfortunately, from a strictly scientific point of view, these reports are hardly conclusive. There has been little or no standardization in the application of phototherapy. This review investigates key aspects of phototherapy and the efficacy of laser therapy for specific applications namely, wound healing and pain relief.

Keywords
wound healing, pain relief, LLLT, phototherapy, laser

 
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