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Effect of diode laser in the treatment of patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

AbstractBACKGROUND DATA:
Low back pain is a common, highly debilitating condition, whose severity is variable. This study evaluated the efficacy of treatment with Ga-Al-As diode laser (980 nm) with a large diameter spot (32 cm(2)), in association with exercise therapy, in reducing pain.
OBJECTIVE:
The present study aimed to evaluate the pain reduction efficacy of treatment with the Ga-Al-As diode laser (980 nm) in combination with exercise therapy, in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).
METHODS:
This study evaluated 100 patients with CLBP (mean age 60 years) who were randomly assigned to two groups. The laser plus exercises group (Laser+EX: 50 patients) received low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with a diode laser, 980 nm, with a specific handpiece [32 cm(2) irradiation spot size, power 20 W in continuous wave (CW), fluence 37.5J/cm(2), total energy per point 1200 J] thrice weekly, and followed a daily exercise schedule for 3 weeks (5 days/week). The exercises group (EX: 50 patients) received placebo laser therapy plus daily exercises. The outcome was evaluated on the visual analogue pain scale (VAS), before and after treatment.
RESULTS:
At the end of the 3 week period, the Laser+EX group showed a significantly greater decrease in pain than did the EX group. There was a significant difference between the two groups, with average Δ VAS scores of 3.96 (Laser+EX group) and 2.23 (EX group). The Student's t test demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the two groups, at p<0.001.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study demonstrated that the use of diode laser (980 nm) with large diameter spot size, in association with exercise therapy, appears to be effective. Such treatment might be considered a valid therapeutic option within rehabilitation programs for nonspecific CLBP.
AuthorsFrancesco Vallone, Stefano Benedicenti, Eugenio Sorrenti, Irene Schiavetti, Francesca Angiero
JournalPhotomedicine and laser surgery (Photomed Laser Surg) Vol. 32 Issue 9 Pg. 490-4 (Sep 2014) ISSN: 1557-8550 [Electronic] United States
PMID25141218 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
Topics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chronic Disease
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lasers, Semiconductor
  • Low Back Pain (therapy)
  • Low-Level Light Therapy (methods)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain Measurement
  • Treatment Outcome

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