Low-certainty evidence suggested pre-exercise PBM reduced soreness and improved selected performance outcomes at follow-up.
Summarizes mitochondrial, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, calcium, and transcription pathways proposed in PBM.
Most analyzed data sets favored active phototherapy for selected fatigue, performance, or recovery measures.
Describes proposed anti-inflammatory signaling pathways and emphasizes wavelength and dose dependence.
Pooled laser studies favored selected exercise-capacity outcomes, while the limited LED subset did not show significant differences for several outcomes.
Concludes that both lasers and LEDs can be used for PBM while optical delivery and dosimetry remain important.
Pooled results favored LLLT for pain, with high between-study heterogeneity and larger estimates in WALT-adherent studies.
Reviews proposed molecular pathways and identifies unresolved questions in PBM mechanism research.
Most included trials reported pain reductions, but technical heterogeneity and limited follow-up prevented broad standardized recommendations.
Proposes mechanisms beyond cytochrome c oxidase, including ion-channel and protein-interaction pathways.
