Application and development of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic bone disease in which the bone mass reduce, the microstructure of the bone degenerate, and the bone fragility increase, which would be prone to fracture. In the light of the aging society, the incidence of osteoporosis is increasing year by year. At present, the mainstream treatment is using drugs. Although drugs have certain therapeutic effect on osteoporosis, it require long-term medication and will arise different adverse reactions. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is an emerging treatment in recent years. It is the application of a coherent or incoherent low-intensity laser, usually in the infrared to near-infrared 630-1000nm wavelength range, to the lesion tissue or monolayer cells to cause non-destructive and non-thermal biological reactions for therapeutic purposes. It is a physical therapy for therapeutic purposes. Studies have shown that low-level laser therapy can activate osteoblasts, promote bone repair, enhance the bone structure of peri-menopausal rat models, and increase bone density, which can be used as an effective intervention for osteoporosis in middle-aged and elderly women. This article reviews recent advances in the study of low-level laser treatment of osteoporosis.