Photobiomodulation and Parkinson's: improved walking speed
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurogenerative disease, after Alzheimer's. In addition to cognitive disorders, patients suffering from this syndrome experience motor problems. Such as tremors and muscle hypertonia, but also a rarity and slowness of movements.
Photobiomodulation to improve motor functions in Parkinson's patients
In 2019, Spanish doctor Luis Santos led a quality scientific study . The objective was to analyze the impact of photobiomodulation treatment on the motor functions of 35 Parkinson's patients.
The team of scientists assessed the patients on their motor skills and then randomly divided them into two groups:
- a first group, composed of 17 patients, receiving treatment by photobiomodulation.
- a second group called "control group", composed of 18 patients, receiving no treatment (a false photobiomodulation machine was used).
Because the study was randomized and controlled, neither the researchers nor the patients knew their group membership.
Patients in the first group received photobiomodulation treatment for 9 weeks, at a rate of 2 sessions per week.
Each session lasted only 9 minutes.
Then, at the end of these 9 weeks of treatment, the patients in both groups were assessed again (motor function, postural control, walking speed, etc.).
Photobiomodulation and Parkinson's, very encouraging results
Regarding the second group (the "control" group), no changes were observed.
Then, regarding the group that received the photobiomodulation treatment, the patients showed a significant improvement in the speed test. Indeed, the patients had a faster walking speed .
The team of researchers concludes:
" Our results are consistent with those of a previous study that reported gait improvements in Parkinson's patients after transcranial photobiomodulation, as well as with other preclinical studies that suggest that photobiomodulation could be a potential strategy against neurodegenerative diseases. "