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Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with delay in tissue repair, closure and contraction of the injury. Traumatic muscle injuries may cause functional changes on muscle regeneration. Pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches have been used in the treatment and recovery of musculoskeletal injuries, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and low-level laser therapy (LLLT). However the process of muscle regeneration in a diabetic organism remains unknown. Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of LLLT on the functional recovery on skeletal muscle trauma induced in diabetic wistar rats, comparing LLLT, diclofenac and both treatments applied together. Methods: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee in the use of animals of USC (n° 34/13). Male Wistar rats were randomized in 6 groups (n=7). Induction of diabetes was performed by intraperitoneal adinistration of streptozotocin (STZ) at concentration of 50 mg/kg body weight. A single trauma was performed employing a mini guillotine, comprising a block weight of 200g that dropped from 20cm on the right posterior limb. Injured groups received treatment 1 hour after injury protocol, diclofenac topically (11.6 mg/g-1), irradiated with LLLT (3J, 810nm, 100mW, 30s), or both treatments applied together. For functional gait assessment was used the sciatic functional index (SFI), where the animals walked by a transparent acrylic hall in which the footprints on the floor were filmed and used for functional analysis. Analyses were performed 12, 24 and 48 hours after injury protocol. The results were expressed as mean ± SD Results: Twelve hours after injury protocol, it was observed that the SFI showed statistically significant increase in all treated groups when compared to sham group (-6.38±0.78) and diabetic group (-6.52±0.49) with p<0.01. 24 hours after injury protocol, injury+laser group (-10.32±0.80) and injury+laser+diclofenac group (-9.25±0.54) showed less difficulty on functional gait assessment, compared with injury group (-11.48±0.49) and injury+diclofenac group (-12.10±1.10) at p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively. 48 hours after the injury protocol, injury+laser+diclofenac group (-8.36±0.49) showed less difficulty on functional gait assessment, compared to other treatment groups and injury group (-12.64±0.62) p<0.01. Conclusion: LLLT associated with diclofenac significantly improved functional gait assessment in diabetic animals 24 and 48 hours after muscle injury protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]