What clinical research found about pain and sensation.
Pain and sleep: a 144-person trial
Researchers enrolled 144 people with painful diabetic polyneuropathy. One group received 890 nm infrared light alongside physical therapy. The comparison group received the same physical therapy without infrared light.
Study participants
144 adultsWith painful diabetic polyneuropathy
Study schedule
18 sessionsFollowed over 10 weeks
The light-therapy group had lower pain levels after six weeks and 30 days after treatment ended. Researchers also reported improved sleep quality, particularly among participants with severe pain.
“Pain intensity was lower and sleep quality improved”
Oggiam et al. · Pain Management Nursing, 2025;26(1):45–54 · DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2024.08.012. Clinical protocol: 890 nm infrared light plus physical therapy. Outcomes shown describe that study protocol.
Sensation: a separate 69-person trial
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial in people with diabetic neuropathy studied nine sessions of clinician-delivered 808/905 nm laser therapy. The laser group showed improved vibration sensation compared with placebo, with differences still present at day 90. Nerve-conduction tests were also assessed.
This trial examined sensory function, while the trial above examined pain and sleep. Read each result with its study equipment and protocol in view. Read the sensory-function study ↗
Yosifova et al. · Journal of IMAB, 2025;31(2):6171–6178 · DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2025312.6171.
