Effect of high-intensity pulse irradiation with linear polarized near-infrared rays on muscle tone in patients with cerebrovascular disease: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

[Purpose] This study evaluated effects of a high-intensity linear polarized near-infrared ray irradiation for mitigation of muscle hypertonia. [Subjects] The subjects were 20 patients with cerebrovascular disease. [Methods] Subjects were randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. The intervention group received irradiation of the triceps surae. Passive range of motion and passive resistive joint torque of ankle dorsiflexion were measured before and after the intervention in knee extended and flexed positions. [Results] In the knee extended position, the mean changes in passive range of motion were 2.70° and −0.50° in the intervention and control groups, respectively, and the mean changes in passive resistive joint torque were −1.42 and −0.26 N·m in the intervention and control groups, respectively. In the knee flexed position, the mean changes in passive range of motion were 3.70° and 0.70° in the intervention and control groups, respectively, and the mean changes in passive resistive joint torque were −2.38 and −0.31 N·m in the intervention and control groups, respectively. In both knee positions, the mean changes in the two indices were greater in the intervention group than in the control group. [Conclusion] High-intensity linear polarized near-infrared ray irradiation increases passive range of motion and decreases passive resistive joint torque.

Effects of high-intensity pulse irradiation with linear polarized near-infrared rays and stretching on muscle tone in patients with cerebrovascular disease: a randomized controlled trial

“…We previously reported the muscle tone-inhibitory effects of HI-LPNR irradiation 6 ) . Demura et al 15 ) reported that LPNR irradiation increased the range of motion in healthy subjects.…”

“…The exclusion criteria were the presence of surgical treatment or drug therapy for spasms (regardless of oral or injection), restriction of range of ankle joint motion on the paralytic side due to a reason other than hypertonia, and influence of pain or other reasons on measurement. This study was a developmental continuation of our previous study on the effects of HI-LPNR irradiation on hypertonia 6 ) and some subjects from the previous study were included in this study.…”

“…In previous studies on intense phototherapy equipment, pain relief and sympathetic ganglion irradiation were mainly investigated 4 , 5 ) . Based on this, we previously reported that HI-LPNR irradiation might suppress muscle tone in cerebrovascular disease (CVD) patients 6 ) .…”