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Adding red light therapy to back exercise did not improve pain or disability over 12 months

A rigorously blinded randomised controlled trial enrolled 148 adults with chronic low back pain to test whether photobiomodulation therapy meaningfully enhanced a structured exercise program over six weeks and across a year of follow-up. The trial found negligible differences between the active light therapy group and the sham group on pain, disability, and an inflammatory marker at every time point measured.

Randomized trialRed light therapyAdded 24 October 2026Reviewed by Gregg H. Grossman · 24 October 2026
Source
Journal of physiotherapy, 72(4), 2026
Title
Photobiomodulation therapy has a negligible effect as an adjunct to motor control exercise in people with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised trial.
Authors
Tomazoni, de Oliveira, Schardong, Plentz, Casalechi, Teixeira, et al.
Design
Randomised controlled trial · n = 148 · 6-week intervention · 12-month follow-up · multi-assessment, intention-to-treat
Link
doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2026.09.005 · PubMed 42864195

What the study found

The trial found that adding photobiomodulation therapy to motor control exercise produced no clinically meaningful improvement in pain intensity compared with a sham version of the same light therapy combined with the same exercise. The mean difference in pain scores at six weeks was less than half a point on a ten-point scale, with a confidence interval that crossed zero.

Disability scores, measured on a validated 24-point questionnaire, told the same story: the active group and the sham group were statistically and clinically indistinguishable at six weeks, and that pattern held at one, three, six, and twelve months after enrolment.

The trial also measured circulating prostaglandin E2, an inflammatory signalling molecule, to probe a proposed biological mechanism. Concentrations did not differ meaningfully between groups at six weeks, offering no biochemical support for the hypothesis that the therapy reduces inflammation in this population.

No treatment-related adverse events were reported in either group across the full follow-up period, suggesting the intervention was well tolerated even if it was not effective as an adjunct.

Limits worth knowing

The study enrolled adults aged 18 to 65 seeking care for chronic non-specific low back pain, so findings may not extend to older or more clinically complex populations. Both groups received the same exercise program, meaning the trial isolates only the incremental contribution of the light therapy rather than its standalone effect. The six-week active intervention period is relatively short, though the 12-month follow-up substantially strengthens the null conclusion. Funding sources were not described in the available abstract. Outcomes were self-reported pain and disability scales, and the study did not assess sleep, quality of life, or return-to-work endpoints.

What this means

This trial adds high-quality evidence to the question of whether photobiomodulation therapy provides meaningful benefit beyond exercise alone for chronic low back pain; its well-powered, long-followed, sham-controlled design makes the null finding more informative than many positive pilot studies, and it should weigh heavily in any balanced summary of the modality's evidence base.

About this entry. The Heartwood Review summarizes published, peer-reviewed research in its own words and links to the original source. It is not medical advice; consult a physician before beginning or changing any thermal or recovery practice. Findings summarized here describe the study cited, not any product sold by Teak & Marble Atelier. Corrections.