Laser
Therapy
A light-based physiotherapy modality used as an adjunct in selected pain and musculoskeletal rehabilitation programmes.
Book A Consultation
Light-based therapy used selectively within rehabilitation.
Laser therapy in physiotherapy refers to the therapeutic use of specific wavelengths of light to influence biological tissues. Depending on the device and treatment parameters, physiotherapy practice may involve low-level laser therapy, also described as photobiomodulation, or higher-intensity laser therapy. Its clinical use depends on the diagnosis, treatment goals, treatment parameters and available evidence for the condition being treated.
- Pain Management Clinical trials and systematic reviews have reported reductions in pain for selected musculoskeletal conditions.
- Functional Support Some studies report improvements in disability or function, although effects vary by diagnosis and treatment protocol.
- Support for Active Rehabilitation When symptom improvement occurs, laser therapy may be used alongside exercise and movement-based rehabilitation.
Current evidence suggests that laser therapy may provide useful symptom relief for selected musculoskeletal conditions, but results are not uniform. Low-level laser therapy and high-intensity laser therapy should not be treated as identical interventions, and treatment parameters can substantially influence outcomes. The newest evidence also highlights uncertainty caused by small studies, heterogeneity and low or very-low certainty in several clinical areas.
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy 路 2026
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated randomized controlled trials of low-level and high-intensity laser therapy for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Laser therapy significantly reduced pain and disability overall. HILT showed larger effects than LLLT across outcomes, while pulsed-mode LLLT was associated with pain reduction. The authors emphasized the need for standardized dosing and longer-term research.
Lin et al. 路 Disability and Rehabilitation 路 2026 路 PubMedTendinopathy 路 2026
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis included 15 randomized controlled trials involving 629 patients with tendinopathy. HILT significantly improved pain and disability compared with control interventions. Effects varied by anatomical site and treatment duration, and the authors noted methodological limitations that warrant further high-quality trials.
2026 Systematic Review & Meta-analysis 路 PubMedHILT vs LLLT in Musculoskeletal Disorders 路 2026
A 2026 systematic review and network meta-analysis included 22 randomized controlled trials involving 1,353 participants. HILT produced statistically greater pain reduction than LLLT in several comparisons, particularly when combined with exercise or other physiotherapy interventions. However, many effects were modest and the certainty of evidence was predominantly very low.
de la Barra Ortiz et al. 路 Lasers in Medical Science 路 2026 路 PubMedPatellofemoral Pain 路 2026
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials found that HILT combined with therapeutic exercise reduced pain in people with patellofemoral pain. However, all included studies had high risk of bias, and the certainty of evidence was rated very low. No clear significant improvement in functional outcomes was demonstrated.
de la Barra Ortiz et al. 路 2026 路 PubMedLow-Level Laser Therapy for Tendinopathy 路 2025
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis identified 35 controlled clinical trials. Compared with minimal intervention, low-level laser therapy provided greater pain relief in chronic tendinopathy, with a pooled standardized mean difference of -0.57 after sensitivity analysis. The number of treatment sessions was also associated with the observed treatment effect.
Yap & Lim 路 2025 路 PubMedPhotobiomodulation for Patellofemoral Pain 路 2025
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis included eight trials involving 340 participants. Photobiomodulation combined with exercise was associated with improvements in pain and knee function. However, substantial heterogeneity and a high risk of bias in several studies resulted in very-low-certainty evidence.
Alayat et al. 路 Journal of Clinical Medicine 路 2025 路 PubMedKnee Osteoarthritis 路 2024
A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluated high-intensity and low-level laser therapy combined with exercise therapy in knee osteoarthritis. Both HILT plus exercise and LLLT plus exercise were associated with improvements in pain and function compared with placebo plus exercise. HILT plus exercise showed larger effects in the included network comparisons.
Systematic Review & Network Meta-analysis 路 2024 路 PubMedLaser therapy should be selected after clinical assessment and consideration of the patient's diagnosis, symptoms, treatment goals, contraindications and the available evidence. Treatment parameters such as wavelength, power, energy density, emission mode, treatment duration and frequency should be selected according to the device, treatment target and clinical protocol. When appropriate, laser therapy can be combined with exercise, movement training, education and functional rehabilitation rather than used as a replacement for active treatment.
Laser therapy should not be presented as a guaranteed method for eliminating pain, repairing damaged tissue, curing arthritis or replacing rehabilitation. Evidence differs between low-level laser therapy, photobiomodulation and high-intensity laser therapy, and findings from one condition should not automatically be generalized to another. Current research supports cautious, condition-specific use rather than treating laser therapy as a universal solution.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of laser physical agent for pain and disability in rotator cuff tendinopathy: subgroup analysis and meta-regression exploration of randomized control trials.
PubMed 路 PMID 41718549 路 2026
PubMed 路 PMID 41964853 路 2026
Comparison of the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy versus low-level laser therapy in musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 41697446 路 2026
Efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy for patellofemoral pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 42286680 路 2026
Shedding more light on the short-term effect of low-level laser therapy on pain in tendinopathy: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 40437920 路 2025
The effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy on pain and function in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 41517270 路 2025
Efficacy of high-intensity and low-level laser therapy combined with exercise therapy on pain and function in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 39193110 路 2024
Find out whether laser therapy is appropriate for your rehabilitation.
Book A Consultation
Laser
Therapy
A light-based physiotherapy modality used as an adjunct in selected pain and musculoskeletal rehabilitation programmes.
Book A Consultation
Light-based therapy used selectively within rehabilitation.
Laser therapy in physiotherapy refers to the therapeutic use of specific wavelengths of light to influence biological tissues. Depending on the device and treatment parameters, physiotherapy practice may involve low-level laser therapy, also described as photobiomodulation, or higher-intensity laser therapy. Its clinical use depends on the diagnosis, treatment goals, treatment parameters and available evidence for the condition being treated.
- Pain Management Clinical trials and systematic reviews have reported reductions in pain for selected musculoskeletal conditions.
- Functional Support Some studies report improvements in disability or function, although effects vary by diagnosis and treatment protocol.
- Support for Active Rehabilitation When symptom improvement occurs, laser therapy may be used alongside exercise and movement-based rehabilitation.
Current evidence suggests that laser therapy may provide useful symptom relief for selected musculoskeletal conditions, but results are not uniform. Low-level laser therapy and high-intensity laser therapy should not be treated as identical interventions, and treatment parameters can substantially influence outcomes. The newest evidence also highlights uncertainty caused by small studies, heterogeneity and low or very-low certainty in several clinical areas.
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy 路 2026
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated randomized controlled trials of low-level and high-intensity laser therapy for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Laser therapy significantly reduced pain and disability overall. HILT showed larger effects than LLLT across outcomes, while pulsed-mode LLLT was associated with pain reduction. The authors emphasized the need for standardized dosing and longer-term research.
Lin et al. 路 Disability and Rehabilitation 路 2026 路 PubMedTendinopathy 路 2026
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis included 15 randomized controlled trials involving 629 patients with tendinopathy. HILT significantly improved pain and disability compared with control interventions. Effects varied by anatomical site and treatment duration, and the authors noted methodological limitations that warrant further high-quality trials.
2026 Systematic Review & Meta-analysis 路 PubMedHILT vs LLLT in Musculoskeletal Disorders 路 2026
A 2026 systematic review and network meta-analysis included 22 randomized controlled trials involving 1,353 participants. HILT produced statistically greater pain reduction than LLLT in several comparisons, particularly when combined with exercise or other physiotherapy interventions. However, many effects were modest and the certainty of evidence was predominantly very low.
de la Barra Ortiz et al. 路 Lasers in Medical Science 路 2026 路 PubMedPatellofemoral Pain 路 2026
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials found that HILT combined with therapeutic exercise reduced pain in people with patellofemoral pain. However, all included studies had high risk of bias, and the certainty of evidence was rated very low. No clear significant improvement in functional outcomes was demonstrated.
de la Barra Ortiz et al. 路 2026 路 PubMedLow-Level Laser Therapy for Tendinopathy 路 2025
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis identified 35 controlled clinical trials. Compared with minimal intervention, low-level laser therapy provided greater pain relief in chronic tendinopathy, with a pooled standardized mean difference of -0.57 after sensitivity analysis. The number of treatment sessions was also associated with the observed treatment effect.
Yap & Lim 路 2025 路 PubMedPhotobiomodulation for Patellofemoral Pain 路 2025
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis included eight trials involving 340 participants. Photobiomodulation combined with exercise was associated with improvements in pain and knee function. However, substantial heterogeneity and a high risk of bias in several studies resulted in very-low-certainty evidence.
Alayat et al. 路 Journal of Clinical Medicine 路 2025 路 PubMedKnee Osteoarthritis 路 2024
A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluated high-intensity and low-level laser therapy combined with exercise therapy in knee osteoarthritis. Both HILT plus exercise and LLLT plus exercise were associated with improvements in pain and function compared with placebo plus exercise. HILT plus exercise showed larger effects in the included network comparisons.
Systematic Review & Network Meta-analysis 路 2024 路 PubMedLaser therapy should be selected after clinical assessment and consideration of the patient's diagnosis, symptoms, treatment goals, contraindications and the available evidence. Treatment parameters such as wavelength, power, energy density, emission mode, treatment duration and frequency should be selected according to the device, treatment target and clinical protocol. When appropriate, laser therapy can be combined with exercise, movement training, education and functional rehabilitation rather than used as a replacement for active treatment.
Laser therapy should not be presented as a guaranteed method for eliminating pain, repairing damaged tissue, curing arthritis or replacing rehabilitation. Evidence differs between low-level laser therapy, photobiomodulation and high-intensity laser therapy, and findings from one condition should not automatically be generalized to another. Current research supports cautious, condition-specific use rather than treating laser therapy as a universal solution.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of laser physical agent for pain and disability in rotator cuff tendinopathy: subgroup analysis and meta-regression exploration of randomized control trials.
PubMed 路 PMID 41718549 路 2026
PubMed 路 PMID 41964853 路 2026
Comparison of the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy versus low-level laser therapy in musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 41697446 路 2026
Efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy for patellofemoral pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 42286680 路 2026
Shedding more light on the short-term effect of low-level laser therapy on pain in tendinopathy: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 40437920 路 2025
The effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy on pain and function in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 41517270 路 2025
Efficacy of high-intensity and low-level laser therapy combined with exercise therapy on pain and function in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
PubMed 路 PMID 39193110 路 2024
Find out whether laser therapy is appropriate for your rehabilitation.
Book A Consultation