Ailioaie, Laura Marinela, Litscher, Gerhard · Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021 · DOI
This review looked at studies on photobiomodulation (PBM)—a treatment using light to help cells work better—and how it might help athletes recover faster and perform better. The researchers found that in about 25 human studies, PBM appeared helpful for reducing fatigue and supporting recovery, though some studies didn't show clear benefits. The authors suggest that with better devices and clearer protocols, PBM could potentially help people dealing with exhaustion and physical stress.
ME/CFS patients experience profound fatigue and impaired recovery from physical activity. Since this review identifies photobiomodulation's potential to modulate mitochondrial function and support recovery, understanding PBM's mechanisms and optimal protocols could eventually inform non-pharmacological approaches to post-exertional malaise and exercise intolerance in ME/CFS populations.
This narrative review does not establish PBM's efficacy in ME/CFS specifically, as the studies examined focus on athletic performance and healthy populations. The review cannot prove causation or establish optimal dosing for any patient population, and the inclusion of 14 inconclusive studies suggests the evidence base remains heterogeneous. Narrative reviews, unlike systematic reviews with meta-analysis, are subject to selection bias and do not provide definitive evidence rankings.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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Primary citation
Ailioaie, Laura Marinela & Litscher, Gerhard (2021). Photobiomodulation and Sports: Results of a Narrative Review.. Life (Basel, Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/life11121339
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-ailioaie-2021-photobiomodulation-sports,
author = {Ailioaie, Laura Marinela and Litscher, Gerhard},
title = {Photobiomodulation and Sports: Results of a Narrative Review.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.3390/life11121339},
note = {PubMed: 34947870},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/ailioaie-2021-photobiomodulation-sports},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/ailioaie-2021-photobiomodulation-sports
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