Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression
Gross AR, Dziengo S, Boers O, Goldsmith CH, Graham N, Lilge L, Burnie S, White R
The open orthopaedics journal · 43 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Meta-analysis (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Possibly industry funded
- University or hospital
- McMaster University
- Authors
- At least one author declares a financial tie to industry
Based on 1 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2013-09-20 · Open Orthop J · vol. 07 · issue 1 · pp. 396–419
- Publisher
- Bentham Science Publishers
- Cited
- 75 citations · more than 68% of similar papers · 1.0× the field average
- References
- 85 works
- Access
- Open access (hybrid journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Laser Applications in Dentistry and Medicine · Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment · Medical and Biological Ozone Research
- Keywords
- Medicine, Low level laser therapy, Meta-regression, Meta-analysis, Neck pain, Laser therapy, Physical therapy, Laser, Internal medicine, Alternative medicine, Pathology
8 authors
From CA
- Anita GrossMcMaster University
- Stephanie DziengoMcMaster University
- Olga BoersMcMaster University
- Charlie H. GoldsmithSimon Fraser University
- Nadine A. GrahamMcMaster University
- Lothar D. LilgeUniversity of Toronto; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Abstract
Purpose
This systematic review update evaluated low level laser therapy (LLLT) for adults with neck pain.
Methods
Computerized searches (root up to Feb 2012) included pain, function/disability, quality of life (QoL) and global perceived effect (GPE). GRADE, effect-sizes, heterogeneity and meta-regression were assessed.
Results
Of 17 trials, 10 demonstrated high risk of bias. For chronic neck pain, there was moderate quality evidence (2 trials, 109 participants) supporting LLLT over placebo to improve pain/disability/QoL/GPE up to intermediate-term (IT). For acute radiculopathy, cervical osteoarthritis or acute neck pain, low quality evidence suggested LLLT improves ST pain/function/QoL over a placebo. For chronic myofascial neck pain (5 trials, 188 participants), evidence was conflicting; a meta-regression of heterogeneous trials suggests super-pulsed LLLT increases the chance of a successful pain outcome.
Conclusions
We found diverse evidence using LLLT for neck pain. LLLT may be beneficial for chronic neck pain/function/QoL. Larger long-term dosage trials are needed.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY-NC).
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