Low-level laser therapy in rehabilitation of patients with ischemic heart disease: review of evidence-based studies
Abstract
Introduction. Cardiac rehabilitation is one of the main achievements of cardiology and physical rehabilitation
medicine in the second half of the 20th century. Based on the methodology of evidence-based medicine,
cardiac rehabilitation in a short time evolved from a “fictional” “alternative” unproven treatment direction to
completely uncontested and proven multidisciplinary programs. This article presents contemporary findings on
cardiorehabilitation and analysis of evidence-based experimental and clinical studies of low-level laser therapy
efficiency in patients with ischemic heart disease.
Aim. To search for evidence-based investigations on application of low-level laser therapy for rehabilitation
of patients with ischemic heart disease and to analyze their major propositions and recommendations.Materials and methods. PEDro, EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane library electronic databases were
searched for randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and clinical protocols using the key
words within 2000–2019 years.
Results and discussion: experimental and clinical investigations were carefully considered and the
following findings were analyzed: action mechanisms of low-level laser therapy, its positive influence on
myocardial remodeling, infarction area reduction, restenosis prevention and presented cardioprotective effect.
More attention was focused at clinical evidence-based studies on application of photobiomodulation in order to
increase the efficacy of surgical and percutaneous myocardial revascularization, and in non-invasive cardiology
and physical rehabilitation medicine.
Conclusion: regular analysis of performed studies and realization of new evidence-based investigation
should be conducted to evaluate the efficiency of low-level laser therapy in rehabilitation of patients with
ischemic heart disease
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