Pre-conditioning by
ischemia,
hyperthermia,
hypothermia, hyperbaric
oxygen (and numerous other modalities) is a rapidly growing area of investigation that is used in pathological conditions where tissue damage may be expected. The damage caused by surgery, heart attack, or
stroke can be mitigated by pre-treating the local or distant tissue with low levels of a stress-inducing stimulus, that can induce a protective response against subsequent major damage. Low-level
laser (
light) therapy (
LLLT) has been used for nearly 50 years to enhance tissue healing and to relieve
pain,
inflammation and swelling. The photons are absorbed in
cytochrome(c) oxidase (unit four in the mitochondrial respiratory chain), and this enzyme activation increases electron transport, respiration, oxygen consumption and
ATP production. A complex signaling cascade is initiated leading to activation of
transcription factors and up- and down-regulation of numerous genes. Recently it has become apparent that
LLLT can also be effective if delivered to normal cells or tissue before the actual insult or
trauma, in a pre-conditioning mode. Muscles are protected, nerves feel less
pain, and
LLLT can protect against a subsequent
heart attack. These examples point the way to wider use of
LLLT as a pre-conditioning modality to prevent
pain and increase healing after surgical/medical procedures and possibly to increase athletic performance.