Light-emitting diode photobiomodulation on rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: In vitro and in vivo studies

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are light sources that can be used for photobiomodulation to treat various diseases and clinical conditions. Growing evidence suggests that photobiomodulation is a promising treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) because of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. However, such evidence is primarily based on studies evaluating low-power laser-based photobiomodulation, and few studies have assessed the efficacy of LED photobiomodulation in the treatment of RA and OA. Thus, this study aimed to review studies on LED photobiomodulation for the treatment of RA and OA, summarizing the irradiation parameters and conditions, and reporting the study types and main results. Studies on the effects of LED photobiomodulation on RA and OA were accessed via PubMed. Data from accessed studies show that LED photobiomodulation has been carried out with red and infrared LEDs based on in vitro and in vivo experimental models. This therapy may decrease arthritic markers, including edema, hyperalgesia, inflammation, cartilage degradation, extracellular matrix alterations, and proinflammatory cytokine levels. LED photobiomodulation could be as effective a therapy as laser photobiomodulation, but further clinical studies are necessary to verify its therapeutic benefits in both RA and OA.