Different color temperature on the effectiveness of rehabilitation training in patients with ischemic strokeA prospective, single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial

Does your competent? doctor have enough functioning brain cells to add this therapy to all these previous ones?

• near infrared light (5 posts to August 2015)

• blue light (9 posts to February 2017)

• light therapy (10 posts to December 2011)

• light-activated therapy (1 post to October 2013)

Oh, you have nothing from this earlier research! So, you don't have a functioning stroke doctor, do you?

 Different color temperature on the effectiveness of rehabilitation training in
patients with ischemic strokeA prospective, single-center, randomized
controlled clinical trial

Nan Wang

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Yan Xue

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Tongyue Wang

Tongji University

Fengxi Qiu

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Cheng Li

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Zhiyuan Wang

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Jianke Jiang

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Yi Lu

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Yingqi Shao

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Zhongfei Bai

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Danmei Lan

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Qilong Hu

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Hengjing Wu

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University

Research Article

Keywords: Light therapy, Color temperature, Ischemic stroke, Cold light, Rehabilitation

Posted Date: November 18th, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5322014/v1

License:   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License

Additional Declarations: No competing interests reported.

Abstract

Background: 

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, especially in China, where its incidence is rising. Post-stroke rehabilitation is crucial for restoring neurological function and improving quality of life. Light therapy, a non-pharmacological intervention, is gaining attention for its potential to promote neuroplasticity and enhance brain circulation. Warm and cold light, differing in color temperature, have shown benets in improving sleep, neurological recovery, and emotional well-being in stroke patients, though their mechanisms are not fully understood. This study explores the effects of different light color temperatures on stroke recovery to optimize rehabilitation approaches.

Methods: 

A randomized controlled trial conducted at the Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center) (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2200057541).

48 patients with ischemic stroke were randomly divided into three groups (1:1:1): warm light group (WLG, 500 lx, 3000 K, n=16), cold light group (CLG, 500lx, 6500 K, n=16), and control group (CG, 500 lx, 5000 K, n=16). Participants underwent 60 minutes of rehabilitation therapy daily from Monday to Friday, between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM, in different color temperature light environments. The primary outcome was the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS). Secondary outcomes included the Short Form-36 (SF-36), Self-Rating Sleep Scale (SRSS), and levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), norepinephrine (NE), and melatonin (MT).

Results: 

The study found that the CLG (-2.00(2.75), p0.001) out-performed WLG (-0.00(1.75),

p = 0.003) and CG (-0.00(0.00), p0.001) in NIHSS scores. There was also a signicant decrease in SRSS scores in the CLG (-5.50(5.50), p(0.001) compared with WLG(-1.00(3.00), p=0.026) and CG(-1.00(3.00), p=0.040). SF-36 assessments indicated better management of role limitations due to signicant improvements in energy/fatigue levels in the CLG(5.00(13.75), p=0.011) compared with WLG (p <0.001) and CG (p <0.001)), and superior social functioning compared to both WLG (p <0.001) and CG (p=0.001). In terms of pain, the CLG showed a signicant improvement (32.50(15.50), p=0.016) compared to WLG (p=0.032) and CG (p=0.007). For general health, the CLG showed positive changes (p=0.009). The results were signicant improvement in health change within the CLG compared to the CG(p=0.002). Lastly, MT levels in the CLG (-4.13±5.10,p = 0.006) signicantly decreased compared with WLG (p = 0.018). No signicant changes in NE and IL-6 levels were observed across all groups, and no apparent adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: 

Cold light therapy showed signicant improvement in multiple indicators, particularly in NIHSS, SRSS, and SF-36's energy/fatigue, pain, and health change aspects, and also demonstrated a reduction in MT levels. These results indicated the substantial potential of cold light therapy as an

adjunct treatment for accelerating neurological rehabilitation and managing related complications in ischemic stroke.

Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, number: ChiCTR2200057541. Registered March 14, 2022.