Placebo-controlled investigation of low-level laser therapy to treat carpal tunnel syndrome
Lazovic M, Ilic-Stojanovic O, Kocic M, Zivkovic V, Hrkovic M, Radosavljevic N
Photomedicine and laser surgery · 33 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
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Funding not disclosed
Publication
- Published
- 2014-06-01 · Photomed Laser Surg · vol. 32 · issue 6 · pp. 336–344
- Publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
- Cited
- 52 citations · more than 92% of similar papers · 3.7× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 59 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Peripheral Nerve Disorders · Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment · Oropharyngeal Anatomy and Pathologies
- Keywords
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, Medicine, Placebo, Low level laser therapy, Laser therapy, Surgery, Physical therapy, Laser, Alternative medicine, Pathology
- MeSH
- humans, carpal tunnel syndrome, double-blind method, middle aged, female, male, low-level light therapy
6 authors
From RS
- Milica P. Lazovic · correspondingInstitute of Physics Belgrade
- Olivera Ilić-StojanovićInstitute of Physics Belgrade
- Mirjana KocićUniversity of Nis
- Vesna D. ZivkovicUniversity of Nis
- Marija HrkovićInstitute of Physics Belgrade
- Natasa RadosavljevicInstitute of Physics Belgrade
Abstract
Objective
This study investigated the short-term efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), lasting for <1 year.
Methods
Seventy-nine patients with CTS were included in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, and randomly divided in two treatment groups: Experimental group (EG), active laser group (40 patients); and control group (CG), placebo (sham) laser group (39 patients). A GaAlAs diode laser [780 nm, 30 mW continuous wave (CW), 0.785 cm(2), 38.2 mW/cm(2)] was applied in contact with four points perpendicularly to the skin over the carpal tunnel area for 90 sec per point (2.7 J, 3.4 J/cm(2)/point). Both groups were treated five times per week, once a day over 2 weeks, followed by 10 treatments every other day for 3 weeks, that is, for a total of 20 treatments. Clinical assessment, including visual analogue scale (VAS) pain rating, Tinel's sign, and median nerve conduction studies (NCSs) were evaluated before, and 3 weeks after, the last LLLT treatment.
Results
Significant reduction in pain, reduction in the percentage of patients with a positive Tinel's sign, and shortening of sensory and motor latency time in the NCS examination was observed in the experimental LLLT group (but not in the control group).
Conclusions
This study has observed and documented the statistically significant short-term effects of LLLT on CTS patients in comparison with a placebo group. The results support this conclusion, especially if the LLLT is applied in the earlier stages of CTS, and with mild to moderate cases.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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