Nerve Regeneration

LASER Therapy stimulates neurogenesis and protects against cell death. Data suggest that light at the right wavelength protects the viability of cell culture after oxidative stress, as indicated by mitochondria membrane potentials. It also stimulates nerve growth factor, allowing the nerves to literally expand their branches and connections. Neuropathy (pain/tingling/numbness in feet), responds remarkably well because the laser stimulates the nerve to regenerate.

Documented Results:

• Neurogenesis
• synaptogenesis (nerves strengthen connections), via increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).18,20,80–82
• Improves memory performance.

The results of the present study confirm previous experimental data on the effectiveness of laser therapy for the promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration and suggest that early postoperative laser therapy should be considered as very promising.

Laser Therapy on the spinal cord significantly increased axonal number and distance of regrowth (p < 0.001).

Documented results:

• Restored the tissue back to normal functioning
• Significantly suppressed immune cell activation and cytokine/chemokine expression.

Light therapy has biomodulatory effects on central and peripheral nervous tissue.

Conclusion:

• LASERS caused the nerve’s axons to regenerate
• Functional recovery in acute Spinal Cord Injury caused by different types of trauma. These results suggest that light is a promising therapy for human spinal cord injury
• Both the length of the axon (branch of the neuron), and the number, increased significantly!

“We (and others) have shown that applying near-infrared light to the head of animals that have suffered TBI produces improvement in neurological functioning, lessens the size of the brain lesion, reduces neuroinflammation, and stimulates the formation of new neurons.” Synapsin-1 (a marker for synaptogenesis, the formation of new connections between existing neurons) was significantly upregulated in lesion and SVZ but not DG, at 28 days but not 7 days. The data suggest that the benefit of LLLT to the brain is partly mediated by stimulation of BDNF production, which may in turn encourage synaptogenesis. Moreover, the pleiotropic benefits of BDNF in the brain suggest LLLT may have wider applications to neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Neurological Severity Score (NSS) for TBI mice.

Mice with severe TBI treated with had significant improvements in neurological severity score (NSS), and wire-grip and motion test (WGMT)…smaller lesion size at 28-days and less degenerating neurons (at 14 days)…LLLT may increase neurogenesis. Transcranial NIR laser may provide benefit in cases of acute TBI provided the optimum treatment regimen is employed.

Effective at sciatic nerve regeneration as determined by molecular, morphologic and functional assessments. LLLT has been widely applied in clinical practice for the facilitation of nerve regeneration. Studies have shown that Schwann cells, the principal glial cells of the peripheral nervous system, secrete neurotrophic factors that promote the regeneration of the peripheral nerve [29], [30]. Phototherapy can stimulate Schwann cell proliferation in vitro [31]. In vivo studies [20]–[23], [32] assessing functional recovery, histological and micro-morphological changes and electrophysiological improvement after the introduction of LLLT proved to have beneficial effects on the regeneration of rat sciatic nerve injury. LLLT also accelerated the repair of transected sciatic nerves in addition to nerve conduits for gapped peripheral nerves [32], [33]. A previous study by Mohammed et al [42] applied low-level laser irradiation to New Zealand adult rabbits with complete transection of the peroneal nerve and observed significant structural changes, such as thicker nerve fibers, more regular myelin layers and clearer nodes of Ranvier. Applied to a severed sciatic nerve immediately after the crush injury has beneficial effects on sciatic nerve regeneration.