O uso da terapia por fotobiomodulação a laser de baixa intensidade na musculatura de cabeça e pescoço na criança com paralisia cerebral: revisão integrativa da literatura

Abstract

Photobiomodulation is a recently regulated resource in Speech Therapy, due to its biomodulatory action, depending on the indication and possibility of using the technique, the objective of therapeutic planning, the mode of application and the parameters used. The objective of this study was to review the literature on the use of low-intensity laser photobiomodulation therapy on head and neck muscles in children with cerebral palsy. This is a descriptive-qualitative study, an integrative review, following the precepts of the PICO strategy and in accordance with PRISMA, using the following guiding question: “Can low-intensity laser photobiomobulation therapy applied to the head and neck muscles of children with cerebral palsy be effective on muscle performance?” The search took place from April 2022 to December 2023, through the BVS, PubMed, SciELO, Embase, ScienceDirect Platform and Cochrane Library, using the health descriptors: low-intensity light therapy, child, cerebral palsy, facial muscles, muscle masseter and neck muscles in Portuguese and English and their alternative terms. Original articles, controlled clinical trials and systematic reviews were selected, applying filters according to each database, without limitations on the year of publication and language. Six articles were selected using combined descriptors. After reading the title and summary and/or reading the selected articles in full, two articles were included. Low-intensity laser photobiomodulation applied to the head and neck muscles in children with cerebral palsy is effective in muscular performance, and there are still no publications that address this resource in intraoral sensitivity, salivary flow and swallowing in the studied population.