Treating Sports Injuries with Soft Laser Therapy – Faster Recovery, Fewer Missed Workouts
You take training seriously – but how much attention do you pay to recovery? If you struggle with muscle soreness, tendon problems or recurring injuries as an athlete, soft laser therapy (LLLT) can help you get back on the field faster. Scientific research increasingly supports its effectiveness across several areas.
In this article I will show which sports injuries can be treated with a soft laser, how to apply it, what the latest meta-analyses say, and how to incorporate it into your at-home recovery routine.
Why is the soft laser popular among athletes?
The soft laser therapy (Low-Level Laser Therapy, LLLT) is becoming part of the recovery toolkit for more and more professional and amateur athletes. This is no accident: the treatment is painless, free of side effects, and can be performed at home – an invaluable advantage during competitive seasons.
The distinctive feature of the soft laser is that it doesn’t only treat symptoms. It acts on the cells' energy-producing units, the mitochondria, where it increases ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production. ATP is the "fuel" your muscles need for work and recovery.
Main effects of soft laser in athletes
Based on scientific studies, soft laser can support performance and recovery in athletes in the following ways:
- Anti-inflammatory effect – reduces inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-α)
- Reduction of muscle damage markers – lower creatine kinase (CK) levels
- Alleviation of DOMS – reduction of delayed onset muscle soreness
- Enhanced tissue regeneration – faster tendon and muscle healing
- Pain relief – via modulation of nerve endings
Which sports injuries can soft laser help with?
Soft laser therapy has been investigated for many sport-specific problems. Below we summarize the best-documented applications.
1. Tendon inflammations and tendinopathies
Tendon problems are among the most common complaints in athletes. Overuse injuries – Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, elbow tendon – can cause long absences if not treated early.
A 2022 meta-analysis (Naterstad et al.) analyzed 10 randomized trials in lower-limb tendinopathies and plantar fasciitis. Results showed that soft laser significantly reduced pain (on average 13.15 mm on the VAS scale) and improved functional limitation. The effect persisted 4–12 weeks after treatment.
Achilles tendon problems: Tumilty and colleagues' 2010 systematic review found that appropriately dosed soft laser produced a 13.6 mm pain reduction on the 100 mm VAS scale – a clinically meaningful improvement.
2. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Tennis elbow doesn’t only affect tennis players – any repetitive gripping or wrist movement can trigger it. Bjordal and colleagues' 2008 meta-analysis examined 13 RCTs (730 patients).
Key finding: using a 904 nm wavelength laser applied directly to the tendon insertion point reduced pain by an average of 17.2 mm (VAS), and grip strength improved by 9.59 kg. The overall chance of improvement was 1.53 times higher than in the placebo group.
3. Shoulder problems (rotator cuff tendinopathy)
Overuse shoulder injuries are common among swimmers, throwers and weightlifters. Haslerud and colleagues' 2014 meta-analysis reviewed 17 RCTs.
Results: as a standalone treatment, soft laser produced a 20.41 mm pain reduction (VAS), and the likelihood of global improvement was nearly double (RR: 1.96). Combined with physiotherapy it also showed a significant advantage over placebo.
4. DOMS – delayed onset muscle soreness
Intense training–induced muscle soreness (DOMS) peaks 24–72 hours after exercise and can limit performance for days. One of the best-documented athletic uses of soft laser is preventing and treating DOMS.
Luo and colleagues' 2022 meta-analysis included 24 randomized trials in athletes. The surprising result: soft laser applied BEFORE exercise significantly improved lower-limb muscle strength at 24, 48 and 96 hours after exercise. It also reduced the muscle soreness index, creatine kinase and the inflammatory marker IL-6.
Practical takeaway: if you have an important training session or competition coming up, soft laser treatment on the targeted muscle groups beforehand can help prevent excessive muscle damage.
5. Muscle performance and fatigue resistance
Ferraresi and coauthors' comprehensive review (2016) found that pre-exercise use of soft laser:
- Can increase the number of repetitions
- Improve muscle strength and torque
- Delay onset of fatigue
- Reduce oxidative stress in muscle tissue
The effects were significant enough that the authors raised the question of whether use of soft laser should be regulated in sports competitions – similar to some other recovery methods.
What do the latest studies say?
The table below summarizes the main meta-analyses and systematic reviews:
| Study | Area studied | Main finding |
|---|---|---|
| Luo 2022 (24 RCTs) | Muscle performance in athletes | Significant strength improvements, reduced DOMS and CK |
| Naterstad 2022 | Lower limb tendinopathy | -13.15 mm pain (VAS), significant functional improvement |
| Bjordal 2008 (730 patients) | Tennis elbow | -17.2 mm pain, +9.59 kg grip strength |
| Haslerud 2014 (17 RCTs) | Shoulder tendinopathy | -20.41 mm pain, RR 1.96 global improvement |
| Tumilty 2010 (25 RCTs) | Tendinopathies in general | Positive results with correct dosing in 12/25 trials |
Optimal parameters for athletes
Research indicates the following parameters are effective:
- Wavelength: 808–904 nm (near infrared) – deeper tissue penetration
- Energy density: 4–8 J/cm² for tendons, 20–60 J for muscle groups
- Application time: 30–60 seconds per point
- Timing: For DOMS prevention, apply 5–10 minutes BEFORE exercise
- Frequency: For injuries, daily or every other day; for prevention, on training days
How to incorporate it into your recovery routine
Soft laser is not a magic cure – you get the best results when it’s part of a comprehensive recovery strategy. Here are some practical suggestions:
Pre-workout application (performance boost, DOMS prevention)
- Identify the most heavily loaded muscle groups
- Treat the target areas 5–10 minutes before training
- Apply 30–60 seconds per point, covering the muscle group in multiple points
Post-workout application (recovery)
- Apply within 1–2 hours after training
- Focus on tired or painful areas
- You can combine it with stretching and foam rolling
Injury treatment
- Apply daily or every other day on the injured area
- Adhere to the recommended energy density
- Combine with physiotherapy – research indicates this enhances the effect
- Consult a specialist for more serious injuries
Before you start treatment
Soft laser is a safe therapeutic tool, but it is contraindicated in some cases. Know these to ensure safe use.
When NOT to use it?
- Directly into the eyes – always avoid periocular treatment without protective goggles
- Over malignant tumors
- Active bleeding, fresh trauma – wait until the acute phase has passed
- Pregnancy – avoid the abdominal and lumbar regions
- Photosensitive conditions – some medications increase photosensitivity
- Infected or purulent areas
Possible side effects
The side-effect profile of soft laser therapy is very favorable. Clinical trials did not report serious adverse effects. Occasionally the following may occur:
- Mild, transient warming sensation in the treated area
- Rarely, temporary increase in pain after the first 1–2 treatments
These reactions usually resolve on their own and do not require intervention.
Recommended softlaser devices for athletes
The following devices are specifically recommended for sports recovery and injury treatment:
B-Cure Laser Sport Pro
A device developed specifically for athletes, operating at 808 nm. Compact and portable – ideal for the training bag and competitions. The pulsed mode is optimal for reaching deeper tissues.
B-Cure Laser Sport Pro details →
Personal Laser L400
A versatile device with an 808 nm diode laser. Excellent for treating tendon problems, muscle pains and minor injuries. Easy to use and reliable performance.
Energy Laser L500 Pro
A higher-power device for professional use. Deeper penetration and shorter treatment times. An ideal choice for serious athletes who require regular recovery.
Energy Laser L500 Pro details →
Find more softlaser devices on the soft laser category page.
Summary – Quick overview
What is this article? A comprehensive guide to the athletic use of soft laser therapy, with scientific evidence.
Who is it for? Amateur and professional athletes, coaches and physiotherapists looking for effective recovery methods.
Main message: Soft laser therapy can provide scientifically supported help in treating sports injuries, preventing DOMS and accelerating recovery – especially when applied before training and for tendon problems.
Key evidence:
- DOMS prevention: pre-exercise application significantly reduces muscle damage (Luo 2022)
- Tendinopathies: 13–20 mm pain reduction on the VAS scale (multiple meta-analyses)
- Tennis elbow: +9.59 kg improvement in grip strength (Bjordal 2008)
- Optimal wavelength: 808–904 nm
Sources
- Luo WT, et al. (2022). Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Muscular Performance and Soreness Recovery in Athletes: A Meta-analysis. Sports Health. PubMed: 34428975
- Naterstad IF, et al. (2022). Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in patients with lower extremity tendinopathy or plantar fasciitis: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. PubMed: 36171024
- Tumilty S, et al. (2010). Low level laser treatment of tendinopathy: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Photomed Laser Surg. PubMed: 19708800
- Bjordal JM, et al. (2008). A systematic review with procedural assessments and meta-analysis of low level laser therapy in lateral elbow tendinopathy. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. PubMed: 18510742
- Lawrence J, Sorra K. (2024). Photobiomodulation as Medicine: LLLT for Acute Tissue Injury or Sport Performance Recovery. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. PubMed: 39449475
- Ferraresi C, et al. (2016). Photobiomodulation in human muscle tissue: an advantage in sports performance? J Biophotonics. PubMed: 27874264
- Haslerud S, et al. (2014). The efficacy of low-level laser therapy for shoulder tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Physiother Res Int. PubMed: 25450903
The information in this article is for guidance only. At-home therapeutic devices are intended to complement medical treatment and do not replace specialist care. For more serious injuries, always consult a sports physician or orthopedist.
