OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to a program of eccentric exercises for the treatment of Achilles' tendinopathy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with evaluations at baseline and 4, 12, and 52 weeks. SETTING: Primary care clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Participants with midportion Achilles' tendinopathy were randomly assigned to 2 groups (LLLT n = 20: mean age +/- SD 45.6 +/- 9.1 y; placebo n = 20: mean age +/- SD 46.5 +/- 6.4 y). The 12-week evaluation was completed by 36 participants (90%), and 33 participants (82.5%) completed the 52-week evaluation. INTERVENTION: Both groups of participants performed eccentric exercises over a 3-month period. In addition, they received either an active or placebo application of LLLT 3 times per week for the first 4 weeks; the dose was 3 J per point. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles' questionnaire (VISA-A) score at 12 weeks; secondary outcome was a visual analog scale for pain. Outcomes were measured at baseline and 4, 12, and 52 weeks. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics exhibited no differences between groups. At the primary outcome point, there was no statistically significant difference in VISA-A scores between groups (p > 0.05). The difference in VISA-A scores at the 4-week point significantly favored the placebo group (F[1] = 6.411, sum of squares 783.839; p = 0.016); all other outcome scores showed no significant difference between the groups at any time point. Observers were blinded to groupings. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical effectiveness of adding LLLT to eccentric exercises for the treatment of Achilles' tendinopathy has not been demonstrated using the parameters in this study.

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