OBJECTIVE: This pilot study was undertaken to test techniques of application of laser therapy, appropriate outcome measures and to determine effect sizes in order to facilitate the performance of a larger, clinical trial of laser therapy in chronic neck pain. METHODS: We conducted a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled study of low-level laser therapy in 20 patients with chronic neck pain. The primary outcome measure was change in a 10cm visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain. Other measures used included a Self-Reported Improvement in pain (SRI), measured by a VAS. Short-term 36 Quality-of-Life questionnaire (SF-36), Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPNPQ) and the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Measurements were taken at baseline, at the end of 7 weeks treatment and at 12 weeks from baseline. RESULTS: We found a positive, pain-relieving effect in the treated group compared with those given placebo using the VAS (p < 0.039), SRI (p < 0.001), NPNPQ (p < 0.002) and the MPQ (p < 0.009). The results of the SF-36 did not differ significantly between the two groups. Patients in the treated group experienced an average pain score improvement of 66.7% compared with 16.6% in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Low-power laser therapy, at the parameters used in this pilot study, may provide a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical therapy for chronic neck pain for patients in general practice. Further study of this technique in a large-scale trial would be justified on the basis of the findings of this pilot study.
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