The effect of photobiomodulation on bone mineral density in individuals with complete spinal cord injuries with osteoporosis

Abstract

Abstract Study Design: A quasi-experimental (matched-pair-design)study. Patients received local photobiomodulation(LPBM) on one side of their body and the control group was assigned to other side, at the same locations. Objectives: To evaluate the LPBM effects on bone-mineral-density(BMD), in complete spinal-cord-injury(C.SCI) patients with osteoporosis(OP) by follow-up dual-energy X-ray-absorptiometry(DEXA). Setting: The clinic of Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran Methods: A total of 23 locations consisting of three-therapeutic-locations(TTLs): Forearm-MID, proximal-femur(PFe), proximal-tibia(PTib), in eight patients (except, forearm-MID with seven) were included LPBM treatment for 8 weeks. BMD were measured using DEXA in both side, at Week-8 of LPBM and at Week-15 for follow-up. Different doses were adjusted depending on the anatomical distance between the skin surface and bone depth as determined by sonography to deliver the optimal isodose at each depth for bone. This study used data from TTLs: Forearm-MID, PFe and PTib to analyze as subgroup effects. We also assessed serum 25-OH-Vitamin-D(Total) during the baseline and Week-8 of treatment Results: BMD, statistically increased at Week-8 of LPBM and at Week-15 for follow-up compared with control group. Subgroup analysis showed, a statistically significant effect of LPBM on BMD, in both PFe and forearm MID, compared with their control, but not at the PTib. A statistically significant, increase in serum 25(OH)-Vitamin-D was found between Week-8 of LPBM treatment and baseline. Conclusion: LPBM with an 830nm laser provided an appropriate dose calculation considering the depth is effective in increasing BMD in C.SCI patient with OP and can lead to a favorable effect on vitamin-D metabolism.