Low-Level Laser Therapy for Fibromyalgia: A
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kuan Yi-Chun 
Published: February 2021

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain and tenderness.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), an emerging nonpharmacological treatment, has been used for
relieving musculoskeletal or neuropathic pain.
Objective: The objective of this review and meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of LLLT
on patients with fibromyalgia.
Study Design: This study involved systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis of published
randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Setting: This study examined all RCTs evaluating the effect of LLLT on fibromyalgia.
Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs evaluating the effect of
LLLT on patients with fibromyalgia. PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched
for articles published before August 2018. RCTs meeting our selection criteria were included. The
methodological quality of the RCTs was evaluated according to the Cochrane risk-for-bias method.
Review Manager version 5.3 was used to perform the meta-analysis. The primary outcomes were
the total scores on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), pain severity, and number of
tender points. The secondary outcomes were changes in fatigue, stiffness, anxiety, and depression.
Standardized mean difference (SMD), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and P values were calculated
for outcome analysis.
Results: We identified 9 RCTs that included 325 fibromyalgia patients undergoing LLLT or
placebo laser treatment with or without an exercise program. The meta-analysis showed that
patients receiving LLLT demonstrated significantly greater improvement in their FIQ scores (SMD:
1.16; 95% CI, 0.64-1.69), pain severity (SMD: 1.18; 95% CI, 0.82-1.54), number of tender
points (SMD: 1.01; 95% CI, 0.49-1.52), fatigue (SMD: 1.4; 95% CI, 0.96-1.84), stiffness (SMD:
0.92; 95% CI, 0.36-1.48), depression (SMD: 1.46; 95% CI, 0.93-2.00), and anxiety (SMD: 1.46;
95% CI, 0.45-2.47) than those receiving placebo laser. Furthermore, when compared with the
standardized exercise program alone, LLLT plus the standardized exercise program provided no
extra advantage in the relief of symptoms. On the other hand, the results of the only RCT using
combined LLLT/LED phototherapy showed significant improvement in most outcomes except for
depression when compared to placebo. When compared with pure exercise therapy, combined
LLLT/LED phototherapy plus exercise therapy had additional benefits in reducing the severity of
pain, number of tender points, and fatigue.
Limitations: There were some limitations in this review, mostly because of the low-to-middle
methodological quality of the selected studies; for example, there was no clear allocation process
and only patients were blinded in most studies. In addition, one study used per-protocol analysis
with a 20% loss to follow-up. On the other hand, the differences in laser types, energy sources,
exposure times, and associated medication status in these studies may have resulted in some
heterogeneity.
Conclusions: Our results provided the most up-to-date and relevant evidence regarding
the effects of LLLT in fibromyalgia. LLLT is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment for
fibromyalgia.
Key words: Low-level laser therapy, fibromyalgia, meta-analysis, FIQ, pain, tender points,
exercise