On 2016 Dec 10, Wen-Long Hu commented:
Laser acupuncture (LA) is defined as the stimulation of traditional acupuncture points with low-intensity, non-thermal laser irradiation. LA combines the positive effects of traditional acupuncture with LLLT. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/55092
On 2016 Dec 01, Jan Tunér commented:
In the study by Hu et al., three acu points and 2-4 ashi points were irradiated, all but one (Hegu, LI4) were in the area of the masticatory muscles. So in fact, laser acupuncture and traditional LLLT for TMD was used. Let us look at the laser parameters: The laser was a 810 nm 150 mW laser, “chopped” at 50%, so actually 75 mW. Reason for chopping is not presented. Two acu points were in the TMD area: ST7 = condyle, ST6 = mandibular corner = muscle masseter. 5 s per acu point = 0.375 J. Two points in the TMD area = 0.750 J. 40 s per ashi/tender point = 3 J. For two points 6 J, for four points 12 J. Maximum total 12.750 J. Several studies on TMD and LLLT have used energy ranges between 3 and 6 J per point, or even less, and targeting tender points. Therefore, this study is a traditional LLLT study and the contribution of the acu points cannot be evaluated. Future studies should not mix local LLLT with laser acupuncture.
On 2016 Dec 01, Jan Tunér commented:
In the study by Hu et al., three acu points and 2-4 ashi points were irradiated, all but one (Hegu, LI4) were in the area of the masticatory muscles. So in fact, laser acupuncture and traditional LLLT for TMD was used. Let us look at the laser parameters: The laser was a 810 nm 150 mW laser, “chopped” at 50%, so actually 75 mW. Reason for chopping is not presented. Two acu points were in the TMD area: ST7 = condyle, ST6 = mandibular corner = muscle masseter. 5 s per acu point = 0.375 J. Two points in the TMD area = 0.750 J. 40 s per ashi/tender point = 3 J. For two points 6 J, for four points 12 J. Maximum total 12.750 J. Several studies on TMD and LLLT have used energy ranges between 3 and 6 J per point, or even less, and targeting tender points. Therefore, this study is a traditional LLLT study and the contribution of the acu points cannot be evaluated. Future studies should not mix local LLLT with laser acupuncture.