OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) combined with exercise on shoulder pain and disability in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Pontifical Catholic University. SUBJECTS: We enrolled 120 subacromial impingement syndrome patients. INTERVENTION: Groups I (n = 42), II (n = 42) and III (n = 36) were treated with Low-level laser therapy and exercise, exercise only and Low-level laser therapy only, respectively. Interventions were conducted three times a week for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the change in shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). Secondary outcomes included changes in the numeric pain rating scale and medication intake. RESULTS: Average ages of patients in groups I, II and III were 51.9 +/- 8.7 years, 56.0 +/- 10.4 years and 54.2 +/- 7.1 years, respectively. Pain scores at baseline (p = 0.829), 2 months (p = 0.057) and 3 months follow-ups (p = 0.004) were 6.8 (4.7 to 7.7), 0.2 (0.0 to 0.5) and 0.3 (0.0 to 1.0) for group I; 6.6 (5.7 to 8.0), 0.5 (0.2 to 2.0) and 0.2 (0.0 to 3.3) for group II; and 6.5 (5.1 to 7.4), 2.4 (0.1 to 6.7) and 4.0 (2.0 to 5.0) for group III, respectively. SPADI scores at baseline (p = 0.029), 2 months (p < 0.001) and 3 months follow-ups (p = 0.001) were 60.8 (37.7 to 70.8), 3.8 (0.0 to 10.8) and 2.3 (0.8 to 10.8) for group I; 61.5 (41.5 to 71.5), 9.2 (3.8 to 29.2) and 14.2 (1.5 to 38.0) for the group II; and 73.3 (59.2 to 80.8), 34.2 (16.9 to 54.6) and 33.1 (22.3 to 49.2) for the group III, respectively. CONCLUSION: Low-level laser therapy combined with exercises reduce pain intensity, improve shoulder function and reduces pain intensity and medication intake over 3 months. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02725749.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher