The purpose of NAALT is to be a forum for therapeutic light therapy practitioners in North America (Mexico, USA and Canada). It is our intention to promote phototherapy as a valid treatment, and to improve understanding of photobiological mechanisms, basic therapeutic light physics, safety, treatment parameters, techniques, regulatory issues and reimbursement.

There are over 75 terms used to describe the use of low dose light devices for therapeutics, the most popular being low level light/laser therapy (LLLT) and Photostimulation. Besides lasers, both LEDs and broad-band light have been used for therapy. Moreover, it is clear that there is distinct dose-dependent clinical response with this mode of therapy and hence the terms ‘low’, ‘level’ ‘laser’ were all inaccurate.

The recent adoption of a MeSH term “Photobiomodulation Therapy” symbolizes the unique nature of this therapy.

NAALT endorses and encourages the use this terminology and defines Photobiomodulation Therapy as “A form of light therapy that utilizes non-ionizing forms of light sources, including LASERS, LEDs, and broad-band light, in the visible and infrared spectrum. It is a non-thermal process involving endogenous chromophores eliciting photophysical (i.e. linear and non-linear) and photochemical events at various biological scales. This process results in beneficial therapeutic outcomes including but not limited to the alleviation of pain or inflammation, immunomodulation, and promotion of wound healing and tissue regeneration.”