Low-level laser therapy and myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) is the most common reason for pain and limited function of the masticatory system. The effects of low-level lasers (LLLs) for controlling the discomfort of patients are investigated frequently. However, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a particular source producing 660 nm and 890 nm wavelengths that was recommended to reduce of the pain in the masticatory muscles. This was a double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. Sixteen MPDS patients were randomly divided into two groups. For the laser group, two diode laser probes (660 nm (nanometers), 6.2 J/cm(2), 6 min, continuous wave, and 890 nm, 1 J/cm(2) (joules per square centimetre), 10 min, 1,500 Hz (Hertz)) were used on the painful muscles. For the control group, the treatment was similar, but the patients were not irradiated. Treatment was given twice a week for 3 weeks. The amount of patient pain was recorded at four time periods (before and immediately after treatment, 1 week after, and on the day of complete pain relief). A visual analog scale (VAS) was selected as the method of pain measurement. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), the t-test and the paired t-test were used to analyze the data. In each group the reduction of pain before and after the treatment was meaningful, but, between the two groups, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) was more effective (P = 0.031) According to this study, this type of LLLT was the effective treatment for pain reduction in MPDS patients.

Management of Temporomandibular Disorders with Low Level Laser Therapy

“…Some authors reported the efficacy of LLLT to be superior to placebo therapy [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] and other physical therapies , while, others found no significant differences between LLLT and placebo for the measures of TMJ pain [24][25][26]. However there is an advantage of using LLLT in the treatment of TMDs as it is non-invasive, cost effective and does not have any known side effects.…”

Eficácia da laserterapia nas disfunções têmporo-mandibulares: estudo controle

“…Studies have shown that placebo, in fact, causes a biological response, as well as a behavioral one in a broad variety of medical conditions 22 . The placebo laser has been used in clinical research in an attempt to understand the true benefit of the therapeutic laser, although the results are still controversial 23,24 . In the present study, there was a 43.6% reduction in pain in the individuals of the study group, in the control group, the reduction was only of 21.3%.…”

Role of low-level laser therapy in treatment of orofacial pain: A systematic review

“…Shirani et al evaluated the efficacy of an LLLT using 660 and 890 nm wavelengths and concluded LLLT was an effective treatment for pain reduction in MPDS patients. [19] Ilbuldu et al compared placebo laser, dry needling and laser for upper trapezius muscle. Significant decrease in pain at rest, at activity, and increase in pain threshold in the laser group was seen compared to other groups.…”