Evaluation of Low Intensity Laser Therapy In Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Carrasco, Thaise Graciele; Guerisoli, Laise Daniela Carrasco; Guerisoli, Danilo Mathias Zanello; Mazzetto, Marcelo Oliveira

doi:10.1179/crn.2009.035

Cited by 51 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…10 Carrasco et al also reported that LLLT was effective in pain reduction of patients with MPS. 11 In regard to improvements in quality of life, in our study we observed that patients treated with IVL and PLLL had more significant (P < 0.0001) improvement in quality of their lives compared to the control group as well as when compared to before treatment. Here again, there was no statistical difference (P = 0.9) in improvement of quality of life between the IVL group and the PLLL group, despite a better quality of life in the IVL group when compared to the PLLL group.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Evaluation of the Effects of Intravenous and Percutaneous Low Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Shoulder Myofascial Pain Syndrome

et al. 2016

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Introduction: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) treatment is challenging with a high recurrence rate and still lacks a clear treatment frame. Therefore research on new, more efficient and long lasting effect treatment modalities is necessary. This study looked at the effects of intravenous laser therapy (IVL) and percutaneous low level laser (PLLL) in the management of shoulder MPS. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 30 patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were randomly equally allocated to 3 groups, control, IVL and PLLL. Control group received 12 sessions of placebo low level laser, IVL group received 12 sessions of IVL therapy, and PLLL group received 12 sessions of PLLL therapy. All patients were trained for better body posture, body mechanics, gentle massage of trigger points, stretching exercises of affected muscle (trapezius), and received 10 mg of oral nortriptyline regimen every night for 3 months. Outcomes included pain severity, functional disability, and quality of life. Patients were assessed using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Pain Disability Index (PDI), and Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann-Whitney and t tests. Results: The mean of PDI and maximum pain intensity during day and night significantly reduced in both PLLL and IVL groups compared to control group. Although pain severity and PDI reduction was more pronounced in IVL group compared to PLLL group, the differences were not statistically significant. Also, quality of life statistically significantly improved in both IVL and PLLL groups compared to control group was more, and although higher in IVL group, the difference was not statistically significant when compared to PLLL group. No side effects were observed in the intervention groups. Conclusion: Intravenous laser and PLLL therapy had a positive effect on pain severity and PDI reduction, and quality of life in this study. Also no adverse event was recorded. Thus, intravenous lasers and PLLL therapy seem to be effective complementary modalities in managing patients with shoulder MPS.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Evaluation of the Effects of Intravenous and Percutaneous Low Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Shoulder Myofascial Pain Syndrome

et al. 2016

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“…Thus, we used 6.36 J/cm 2 energy density. Carrasco et al 29 used very high energy densities (25, 60, 105 J/cm 2 ). Since they did not obtain favorable results and based on the suggested energy density values for GaAsAl laser, 30 we used a lower energy density.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To assess the stability of the results of laser therapy, VAS has been used in previous studies. Carrasco et al 29 assessed the level of pain of patients using a VAS 15 days and 1 month following completion of treatment. Dundar et al 25 used VAS 4 weeks after initiation of treatment and Altan et al 26 used VAS at 0, 2, 12 and 14 weeks following treatment to assess the pain severity in patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the current study, a slight increase in pain scores of patients (based on VAS) was noted after completion of treatment and one month after completion of treatment in the 2 groups and significant difference was noted. The laser therapy protocol was twice a week for 10 sessions by Öz et al, 24 twice a week for 4 weeks by Carrasco et al, 29 once a day for 15 days by Dundar et al, 25 once a day for 10 days by Altan et al, 26 and 8 sessions during 4 weeks by Hansen et al 28 Considering the fact that the effects of each session of laser therapy often last for nine to 72 hours and also to prevent the cumulative effects of laser, we performed laser therapy for 3 sessions a week. Since HeNe and GaAs laser was used in some previous studies with no significant difference between the case and control groups, GaAlAs laser was used in the current study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Therapeutic and Analgesic Efficacy of Laser in Conjunction With Pharmaceutical Therapy for Trigeminal Neuralgia

et al. 2017

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Introduction: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is the most common neuralgia in the head and neck region and a common cause of orofacial pain. It is routinely treated with carbamazepine. Laser, acupuncture and radiofrequency are among other treatment modalities for this condition. This study sought to assess the efficacy of laser therapy in conjunction with carbamazepine for treatment of TN. Methods: A total of 30 patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into 2 groups of cases and controls (n = 15) by double blind randomized controlled clinical trial. All patients received 100 mg carbamazepine at baseline and another 100 mg after 2 days for pain control. In the case group, low level laser therapy (LLLT) was also performed in addition to pharmaceutical therapy. Sham laser was used in the control group instead of LLLT. Treatment was continued for 9 sessions (3 days a week). The intensity of pain was measured and compared in the 2 groups using visual analog scale (VAS) in 3 period. The qualitative variables among the groups were compared using the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The severity of pain was lower at the end of treatment in the case compared to the control group so this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.003). The severity of pain decreased in both groups over time. Significant difference was noted in this regard between the 2 groups either (P = 0.003). At the end of treatment pain intensity dropped in the intervention group from 6/8 to 1/2 and control group from 6/6 to 2/7. Conclusion: Laser therapy did add to the value of pharmaceutical therapy for treatment of TN. Both groups experienced significant improvement over time. So it is better to used laser complementary therapy to reduce side effects and the medicine dosage.

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“…Eight other RCTs also showed the pain-relieving effect of LA; some of these focused on myofascial pain over the cervical region [16,17], masseter [18], masticatory muscles [19,20], trapezius [21,22], or trigger points [23]. The consistency of these trials highlighted the efficacy of LA in the treatment of myofascial pain.…”

Section: Myofascial Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing Pain with Laser Acupuncture

Wu¹,

Kuo²,

Hung³

et al. 2016

Pain Management

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According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, Qi flows through the body along specific paths known as meridians. Any disturbance in Qi evokes a Ying−Yang imbalance in the body, and consequently leads to disease. Pain results from blood stasis and Qi stagnation. Laser acupuncture (LA), first introduced clinically in the 1970s, combines the advantages of traditional acupuncture and modern laser medicine and has been applied for the treatment of various diseases. Here, we investigated studies on the use of LA for pain management according to current evidence. Articles including English keywords related to the use of LA for pain, published between January 2006 and August 2015 were sourced from PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases. On the basis of these papers, we explored the modern applications, mechanisms, and analgesic effects of LA. LA integrates the positive effects of acupuncture and low-level laser therapy, and is therefore effective in activating blood and in moving Qi. LA relieves pain through both anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. No adverse effects or complications resulting from LA were reported in the literature. In the hands of an experienced physician, LA can be a useful and safe method for pain management.

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Evaluation of Low Intensity Laser Therapy In Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Cited by 51 publications

References 19 publications

Evaluation of the Effects of Intravenous and Percutaneous Low Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Shoulder Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Evaluation of the Effects of Intravenous and Percutaneous Low Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Shoulder Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Therapeutic and Analgesic Efficacy of Laser in Conjunction With Pharmaceutical Therapy for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Managing Pain with Laser Acupuncture

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