Effects of Near Infrared Light on Surgical Wound Healing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Liu et al., Int Wound J, 2026. PMID 41605843
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About the research on this page. The studies cited here investigate photobiomodulation (PBM) as a therapeutic modality and the specific wavelengths used in PBM research — not Mito Red Light devices. The wavelengths in our panels were chosen because the peer-reviewed PBM literature supports them. Evidence levels and study counts reflect the broader research base, not studies of our products. See the full methodology note at the bottom of this page.
Light therapy helps some wounds heal faster, especially surgical wounds and early-stage diabetic foot ulcers. A 2026 meta-analysis of 56 trials (4,920 patients) found that near-infrared light improved surgical wound healing and reduced pain after surgery, with the best results at 700 to 850 nm and 4 to 10 sessions, though certainty was very low (Liu 2026). In grade I to II diabetic foot ulcers, 11 studies (657 participants) found more complete healing, greater wound shrinkage and fewer infections (Chen 2025). A 2025 network meta-analysis of 99 trials ranked low-level laser highest of 12 treatments for shrinking diabetic foot ulcer area (Hu 2025).
Not every wound responds. For venous leg ulcers, a 2026 meta-analysis found no significant reduction in ulcer area (Rasul 2026). For pressure ulcers, a review of 5 trials found healing similar to standard care except with one red-laser protocol (Petz 2020).
Based on 957 indexed studies in this category, 200 of them in people. These studies test photobiomodulation in general, not Mito Red Light devices.
Number of studies in our database for each condition. Direction and certainty are shown only where a meta-analysis or systematic review reports them; otherwise the row says "not graded".
| Condition | Human randomized trials | All human studies | Direction of results | Certainty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetic foot ulcer | 27 | 45 | More complete healing in grade I-II ulcers Chen 2025 (PMID 40186874); Hu 2025 (PMID 40821981) |
Not graded by authors |
| Chronic | 6 | 27 | Not graded | Not graded |
| Venous ulcer | 12 | 23 | No significant reduction in ulcer area Rasul 2026 (PMID 41889013) |
Low confidence (risk of bias) |
| Burns (clinical) | 6 | 18 | Not graded | Not graded |
| Pressure ulcer | 12 | 15 | Similar to standard care overall Petz 2020 (PMID 31550398) |
Low methodological quality |
| Cardiac surgery | 9 | 13 | Not graded | Not graded |
| Wound healing | 1 | 12 | Not graded | Not graded |
| Graft donor site | 2 | 5 | Not graded | Not graded |
| Diabetic foot ulcer: PDT clinical studies | 4 | 5 | Not graded | Not graded |
| Knee arthroplasty | 3 | 4 | Not graded | Not graded |
| Abdominal surgery | 2 | 3 | Not graded | Not graded |
| Rhinoplasty | 3 | 3 | Not graded | Not graded |
The strongest human evidence: systematic reviews and meta-analyses first, then the newest randomized trials. Each card comes straight from our study database and links to the paper.
Liu et al., Int Wound J, 2026. PMID 41605843
Rasul et al., Wound Repair Regen, 2026. PMID 41889013
Chen et al., Wound Repair Regen, 2025. PMID 40186874
Hu et al., PeerJ, 2025. PMID 40821981
Taha et al., Cureus, 2024. PMID 39610644
de Fatima Cordeiro Petz et al., Photochem Photobiol, 2020. PMID 31550398
Not every trial is positive. "No effect" means the main outcome did not differ from sham or control. "Mixed" means some outcomes improved but the outcome named here did not differ.
| Year | Study | Design | Result | Outcome with no difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Healing Effect of Photobiomodulation on Venous Leg Ulcers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Meta-analysis | No effect | Venous leg ulcer healing |
| 2025 | Photobiomodulation in wounds of individuals with diabetes: a nonrandomized pilot study | Human study, n = 25 | No effect | Wound area and inflammatory gene expression between groups (non-randomized) |
| 2025 | The Impact of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Swelling Reduction and Recovery Enhancement in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial | RCT, n = 30 | Mixed | Range of motion and pain after knee replacement (swelling reduced) |
The 25 most recent human studies in our database for this category.
Wavelengths reported in our database for the 98 human randomized trials in this category (70 wavelength entries; many database records lack a wavelength, and some trials report more than one). This describes the research; it is not a dosing recommendation.
| Wavelength band | Times used in trials |
|---|---|
| Red (600-699 nm) | 30 |
| Blue/green (400-599 nm) | 15 |
| Near-infrared (800-899 nm) | 14 |
| Near-infrared (900-1200 nm) | 10 |
| Deep red/near-infrared (700-799 nm) | 1 |
Most common wavelengths: 660-669 nm, 630-639 nm, 940-949 nm, 650-659 nm, 400-409 nm.
For some wounds. Near-infrared light improved surgical wound healing and pain across 35 pooled trials (Liu 2026), and low-level laser improved healing of early-stage diabetic foot ulcers (Chen 2025).
In the surgical wound meta-analysis, the best results came from 700 to 850 nm near-infrared light, 4 to 10 sessions and non-contact application (Liu 2026).
Not according to a 2026 meta-analysis, which found no significant reduction in ulcer area (Rasul 2026).
All 957 studies in this category from our study database, built on the PBM Research Database by Vladimir Heiskanen.
Search every study across all categories: Open the Full Evidence Explorer →
The published research indexed and referenced on this page studies photobiomodulation (PBM) as a therapeutic modality and the specific wavelengths used in those studies — not Mito Red Light devices specifically. The wavelengths used across our panels were chosen because the peer-reviewed PBM literature supports them: this is where published evidence is deepest, where dosing parameters have been characterized in human studies, and where clinical guidelines (such as WALT for inflammation and pain) exist. Mito Red Light has not funded or conducted registered clinical trials on our specific devices, and the study counts referenced here reflect the broader PBM research base — not studies of our products.
Where review authors graded certainty (for example with GRADE), we report their grade; other ratings are Mito’s summary. Study counts reflect peer-reviewed photobiomodulation research drawn from major scientific literature databases, peer-reviewed journals, and other published research repositories. PBM response varies meaningfully by person, tissue, condition, dose, wavelength, and session timing; outcomes reported in the published literature may not be replicable for every user. Mito Red Light devices are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition or are under a physician’s care, please consult your healthcare provider before beginning any photobiomodulation regimen.