<p>Effects of a single treatment with two nonthermal laser wavelengths on chronic neck and shoulder pain</p>

Abstract

Introduction Nonthermal lasers provide pain relief for a variety of musculoskeletal disorders and improve physical functioning. A nonthermal laser that employs a 635 nm red diode is cleared for the temporary reduction of neck and shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin. As a 405 nm violet laser has shown synergy with the 635 nm red laser when used together for treating other conditions, the objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of 635 nm red and 405 nm violet lasers vs the 635 nm red laser for treating neck and shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin. Materials and methods Otherwise healthy adult subjects with chronic neck or shoulder pain for ≥30 days were enrolled and randomized to receive a single 13-min treatment with combined red and violet lasers (n=44) or the red laser alone (n=43). The primary efficacy measure was change in baseline VAS pain scores 3 mins after treatment. Subject success was predefined as a ≥30% decrease in VAS scores and study success was predefined as 65±5% individual subject successes. Results Among subjects treated with the red and violet lasers, mean VAS neck and shoulder pain scores decreased from 65.0 to 35.2 ( p <0.0001). Most subjects in the study (75%) achieved ≥30% decrease in VAS scores. The decreased mean (SD) VAS scores remained 29.6 (16.7) and 29.3 (19.2) after 24 and 48 hrs, respectively. The secondary efficacy measures of change in range of motion ROM) and patient satisfaction also improved. There were no adverse events. Conclusion Overall, treatment with the red and violet lasers outperformed the FDA-approved red laser with respect to change in pain scores and improvement in shoulder ROM.

Assessing the Impact of High Photon Energy Wavelengths on the Treatment of Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain

“…Participants were administered a single 13-minute treatment using a nonthermal laser device on the day they enrolled in the study. The treatment protocol followed the same approach as previous studies, which utilized either a combination of red 635 nm and 405 nm violet diodes (Erchonia EVRL) [ 12 ] or a single red 635 nm diode (Erchonia PL2000) [ 13 ].…”

“…The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted low-level laser market clearance for the reduction of neck and shoulder pain in 2002 for red laser diode alone [ 10 ] and in 2018 for the combination of red and violet laser diodes [ 11 ]. A previous comparative study analysed the difference between a red laser diode alone and a red/violet laser diode combination [ 12 ]. The primary objective of this nonrandomized noninferiority design trial was to determine whether the combination of violet and green lasers is as effective as the previously FDA-cleared treatments using either the red diode alone or the combination of red and violet laser diodes.…”

Efficacy of 635nm Red Low-Level Laser on Nociceptive Musculoskeletal Pain Compared to NSAIDS, Opioids, and Other Light Sources

“…These included five randomized, placebo-controlled studies and one randomized comparative study [9][10][11][12]. Several of these studies have been previously published [13][14][15][16]. The devices utilized 635 nm red laser diodes ranging from 5 -17.5mw(Erchonia Corporation, Melbourne, FL).…”