HEBA BAHEY EL-DEEN*, SEHAM FAHMY**, S.A. ALI***^#, W.M. EL-SAYED****

*Faculty of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
**Department of Physical Therapy, Kobri El Koba Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
***Center of Basic Sciences (CBS), Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt, on leave from the Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
****General Surgery Department, Kobri El Koba Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

Background: Phototherapy is characterized by its ability to induce photobiologicalprocesses in both cellular and subcellular levels. Many studies and researches have recommended the successful application of light therapy in the management of diabetic foot ulcer, acceleration of healing rate and recovery to overcome this serious problem. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare between the effects of polarized light therapy and light-emitting diode therapy on diabetic foot ulcer. Subjects and Methods: Thirty patients of both sexes with type 2 diabetic foot ulcers participated in this study. The mean values of their ages were 59.1±7.68 and 60.9±8.3 years respectively. They were classified into two equal groups (15 patients each) PL group received polarized light therapy and LED group received non polarized light-emitting diode therapy three times per week for two months. Both groups received traditional medical treatment in addition to light therapy. Wound surface area and depth were calculated for all participated patients. These measures were recorded three times during the period of the study; before treatment, after 1 month and at the end of the study period, after two months. Results: The results of this study showed significant reduction of surface area and depth of ulcer in both groups at the end of the study period with higher improvement in favor of polarized light group. Conclusion: It was concluded that, polarized light therapy seems to be more effective in accelerating healing of grade II diabetic foot ulcer than light-emitting diode therapy.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: saidtaha@aucegypt.edu

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