How lasers help manage fibromyalgia symptoms

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition causing widespread pain. It affects 2–4% of people, usually women.

People who have other chronic conditions, such as rheumatic diseases, are at higher risk of having fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory or autoimmune disease. Research suggests the nervous system is involved.¹

What are fibromyalgia symptoms?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the two most common symptoms of fibromyalgia are pain and fatigue, and patients may experience some or all of the following symptoms: ²

• Muscle pain or tenderness
• Fatigue
• Face and jaw pain which may be temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)
• Headaches and migraines
• Digestive problems, including diarrhea and constipation
• Bladder control issues

Additionally, Johns Hopkins notes mental and emotional symptoms may include memory problems, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders, such as insomnia.³

Traditional treatments

There are no known cures for fibromyalgia. The symptoms of Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) require many members of a care team. First level management typically includes similar natural treatments, such as exercise and other aerobic activity along with acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage.⁴

Often, the second-level protocol involves psychotherapy to help manage stress and anxiety.⁵ Plus, when necessary, working with a sleep specialist to address sleep challenges.

Third-level care is pharmacological intervention. The American College of Rheumatology describes the drug approach: Three drugs are FDA-approved for fibromyalgia: duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella) adjust brain chemicals to ease widespread pain, and pregabalin (Lyrica) which blocks overactive nerve cells. Drugs called amitryptiline (Elavil) or cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and other antidepressants can help too.

Of course, these drugs come with side effects and do not help many people. According to one study, although efforts to develop nonpharmacologic strategies and pharmacological solutions for fibromyalgia have resulted in three FDA-approved medications, existing data and clinical experiences suggest modest success rates due to a lack of efficacy or side effects, leading to low patient compliance.⁶

What about light as a treatment?

Can light be another protocol in the treatment? Yes. Laser, also known as low-level light therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), can be effective. According to one study, PBMT was reported to have profound biological effects on tissue, including increased cell proliferation, accelerating the healing process, promoting tissue regeneration, preventing cell death, anti-inflammatory activity and relief of pain.⁷

Why photobiomodulation works

One article explores two hypotheses about how photobiomodulation works:

1. One of the most important chromophores is cytochrome c oxidase (unit IV in the mitochondrial respiratory chain), which contains both heme and copper centers and absorbs light into the near-infrared region. The leading hypothesis is the photons dissociate inhibitory nitric oxide from the enzyme, leading to an increase in electron transport, mitochondrial membrane potential and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.
2. Another hypothesis concerns light-sensitive ion channels activated, allowing calcium to enter the cell. After the initial photon absorption events, numerous signaling pathways are activated via reactive oxygen species, cyclic AMP, NO and Ca2+, leading to activation of transcription factors.⁸

Therapeutic window

Studies have shown not all wavelengths are effective for PBMT. There exists a narrow band in the light spectrum for which water is not a highly efficient chromophore, thereby allowing light energy to penetrate tissue rich in water content, such as the capillary bed. This narrow band (approximately from 600nm to 1200nm) is the so-called therapeutic window. Figure 1 illustrates how the photons of light result in three types of biological effects: 1. photochemical, 2. photothermal and 3. photomechanical.

Research studies

There are thousands of photobiomodulation research studies published on PubMed and in similar sources. Below you will find seven studies outlining the impact of lasers on fibromyalgia.

1. One study reported consistent relief from fibromyalgia symptoms due to laser therapy treatment.⁹
2. Meanwhile, another study showed reduced pain and increased mobility among 546 patients out of 846.¹⁰
3. Another study was conducted on 40 female patients who were treated with lasers for two weeks. The patients showed decreased muscle spasms, stiffness, pain and tenderness.¹¹
4. One study examined the efficacy of combining medication and laser and featured low-dose amitriptyline and laser therapy in patients with fibromyalgia. Interestingly, the results showed lasers can be effective as a complement to amitriptyline or alone to address the symptoms of fibromyalgia, including muscle spasms, pain, morning stiffness, sleep disturbance, fatigue and even depression.¹²
5. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of randomized controlled trials assessing the levels of pain severity, stiffness, number of tender points, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Their findings showed fibromyalgia patients who received laser therapy demonstrated significant improvements in all parameters. It also showed using laser therapy with exercise demonstrated significant benefits in reducing pain and fatigue.¹³
6. Another study reported evidence of positive results in treating patients with fibromyalgia with PBMT, including a decrease in pain, number of tender points and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) scores, in addition to an increase in function.¹⁴
7. A large clinical study was conducted on 160 women suffering from fibromyalgia. The study evaluated the application of PBMT in 11 tender points and patients were allocated into two different sessions: acute (one session) and chronic (10 weeks, two times weekly), each with four groups: placebo-control, PBMT, exercise and PBMT + exercise. The results demonstrated a large effect for both PBMT and exercise groups (nearly 50% greater than placebo); however, the PBMT and the PBMT + exercise groups experienced the greatest reduction in pain when compared to control and exercise alone. When looking at the reduction in the number of tender points, it should be noted the PBMT + exercise group significantly reduced the overall number of tender points.⁷

Final thoughts

Fibromyalgia does not have any known cure; however, strong evidence supports the use of lasers, specifically PBMT, to be effective in managing and reducing the symptoms.

Rob Berman is a partner at Berman Partners LLC, a medical-device sales and marketing company. Berman Partners specializes in new and preowned therapeutic lasers. Berman has published dozens of articles on lasers, light therapy, marketing and practice management. He helps doctors improve patient outcomes while increasing physician income. Berman can be contacted by phone at 860-707-4220 or by email at rob@bermanpartners.com.

References

1. Reid P. Fibromyalgia. February 2025. American College of Rheumatology. https://rheumatology.org/patients/fibromyalgia. Accessed April 25, 2026.
2. The Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4832-fibromyalgia#symptoms-and-causes. Accessed April 25, 2026.
3. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/fibromyalgia. Accessed April 25, 2026.
4. Complementary and alternative treatments. May 2022. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. https://www.informedhealth.org/complementary-and-alternative-treatments.html. Accessed April 25, 2026.
5. Diagnosis. Mayo Clinic Staff. April 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354785. Accessed April 25, 2026.
6. Jones EA, et al. Management of fibromyalgia: An update. Biomedicines. 2024;12(6):1266. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38927473/. Accessed April 25, 2026.
7. de Oliveira MF, et al. Low-intensity laser and LED (photobiomodulation therapy) for pain control of the most common musculoskeletal conditions. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2021;58(2):282–289. https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/europa-medicophysica/article.php?cod=R33Y2022N02A0282. Accessed April 25, 2026.
8. de Freitas LF, Hamblin MR. Proposed mechanisms of photobiomodulation or low-level light therapy. IEEE J Sel Top Quantum Electron. 2016;22(3):7000417. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28070154/. Accessed April 25, 2026.
9. Ruaro JA, et al. Low-level laser therapy to treat fibromyalgia. Lasers Med Sci. 2014;29(6):1815-1819. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24801056/. Accessed April 25, 2026.
10. Longo L, et al. Laser therapy for fibromyositic rheumatisms. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 1997;15(5):217-20. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9612173/. Accessed April 25, 2026.
11. Gür A, et al. Efficacy of low power laser therapy in fibromyalgia: A single-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lasers Med Sci. 2002;17(1):57-61. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11845369/. Accessed April 25, 2026.
12. Gür A, et al. Effects of low power laser and low dose amitriptyline therapy on clinical symptoms and quality of life in fibromyalgia: A single-blind placebo-controlled trial. Rheumatol Int. 2002;2(5):188-193. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12215864/. Accessed April 25, 2026.
13. Yeh SW, et al. Low-level laser therapy for fibromyalgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Physician. 2019;22(3):241-254. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31151332/. Accessed April 25, 2026.
14. Moore J, Demchak TJ. Treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome with low level laser therapy: A case report. Int J Athl Ther Train. 2012;17:28–31. https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijatt/17/4/article-p28.xml. Accessed April 25, 2026.