New mothers often face intense pain after birth, especially when the area around the vagina gets injured. Researchers wanted to know if a specific red light treatment could help. They tested this on 60 women who scored four or higher on a pain scale. These women received either the red light or a sham treatment that looked real but had no active light. The team checked pain levels and tissue healing at 30 minutes and several days later. At 30 minutes, the women who got the red light did not feel less pain than those who got the sham treatment. Their pain scores were similar, and their tissue healing scores were also the same. The women reported similar satisfaction levels a week later. No safety issues were reported during the short study. While the red light felt safe, this single application did not work better than the fake treatment. This means one session of this light therapy is not a reliable way to reduce pain right after birth for these injuries.
Single photobiomodulation session fails to reduce perineal trauma pain in postpartum womenOne red light treatment did not reduce pain for new moms with perineal trauma
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Key Takeaway
Consider that a single photobiomodulation session with these parameters does not reduce perineal trauma pain or improve healing in postpartum women.
This double-blind, two-center randomized controlled trial enrolled 60 postpartum women with perineal trauma and pain scores of 4 or more on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Participants received either a single application of red light to the lesion and infrared light around it or a sham treatment. The primary outcomes were pain scores on the NRS and tissue healing on the REEDA scale at 30 minutes post-intervention.
At 30 minutes, there was no significant difference between groups in NRS pain scores (experimental: 3.63 ± 2.57; sham: 2.53 ± 2.15; P = 0.089) or SF-MPQ pain scores (experimental: 7.83 ± 8.32; sham: 5.10 ± 6.42; P = 0.108). Similarly, REEDA scores at 30 minutes showed no significant difference (experimental: 5.57 ± 3.05; sham: 4.47 ± 2.42; P = 0.175). Satisfaction at 7-10 days was high in both groups, with 84.09% satisfied or very satisfied.
Adverse events and tolerability were not reported. The study is limited by its small sample size and single application protocol. The findings suggest that a single photobiomodulation session with these parameters does not provide acute pain relief or improve healing compared to sham. Clinicians should consider other evidence-based interventions for perineal trauma pain.
What this means for you:
One red light session did not reduce pain or improve healing for new moms with perineal trauma. View Original Abstract ↓
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of a single photobiomodulation (PBM) application on perineal pain and healing in women in the immediate postpartum period.
METHODS: Randomized controlled trial, double-blind, two-center, with 60 postpartum women with perineal trauma and pain scoring 4 or more on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). The experimental group received red light to the lesion and infrared light around it, while the sham group received a simulation. We assessed pain with the NRS and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ); tissue healing with the REEDA scale (Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation) at baseline, 30 min (primary outcome), and 12-36 h after intervention and satisfaction with a Likert scale 7-10 days post-intervention. We conducted bivariate analyses and an analysis of variance for repeated measures.
RESULTS: The experimental and sham groups showed pain reduction with no difference between them for pain scores or healing 30 min post-intervention (mean ± SD: NRS 3.63 ± 2.57 vs 2.53 ± 2.15; P = 0.089; SF-MPQ 7.83 ± 8.32 vs 5.10 ± 6.42; P = 0.108; and REEDA 5.57 ± 3.05 vs 4.47 ± 2.42; P = 0.175). Analysis of variance revealed no significant interaction between time and group at any time point evaluated. Of the participants, 84.09% were satisfied or very satisfied with the intervention.
CONCLUSIONS: Although both groups experienced a reduction in pain after the intervention, a single PBM application with these parameters was not superior to a sham treatment. Future research could explore multiple applications or different parameters.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Laser for Pain Relief in Nipple and Perineal Trauma in Postpartum; UTN code U1111-1279-3594 (https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-2qm8jrp/1).
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