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The Effects of Laser Acupuncture Therapy on Nocturnal Enuresis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Gil Ton1, Chia-Hui Lin2, Wen-Chao Ho3
1College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Insights
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) shows promise for treating nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) in children. Laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) demonstrated significant improvements compared to control groups, though more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Nocturnal enuresis (NE), or bedwetting, is a common childhood condition with potential social implications.
- Current treatment options for NE vary in efficacy and patient acceptance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as a treatment for nocturnal enuresis in children.
- To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on LLLT for NE.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs comparing LLLT for NE with control interventions.
- Eleven studies involving 927 participants using laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) were included.
- PRISMA guidelines and Cochrane risk-of-bias tool were utilized for quality assessment.
Main Results:
- LAT groups demonstrated a significant improvement in full response rates compared to control groups.
- No significant difference was observed between LAT and medication therapy alone for full response rates.
- Red and infrared wavelengths and continuous waves were common LAT modalities, targeting lower abdomen and back acupoints.
Conclusions:
- Laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) appears to be a safe and effective treatment for nocturnal enuresis (NE).
- The current evidence quality is relatively low, necessitating further high-quality trials.
- More rigorous research is required to confirm the efficacy and optimal application of LAT for NE.
Introduction:
Nocturnal enuresis (NE), often known as bedwetting, is a common condition in children and, as a result, they may have subsequent social impairments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in children with NE.
Methods:
International databases with laser- and NE-related keywords were searched, and only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used any type of LLLT to treat NE and compared it with any type of control intervention were included. Eleven studies using laser acupuncture therapy (LAT), involving 927 participants, were included for a systematic review. A meta-analysis was conducted using full and partial response-rate variables. The analysis was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation recommendations for quality of evidence were used to rate all included publications.
Results:
The LAT groups showed significant improvement, compared with control groups when full response rates were analyzed. There was no significant difference between the groups treated with LAT and the groups who underwent medication therapy alone when full response rates were analyzed. Red and infrared wavelengths and continuous waves were the most commonly used LAT modalities, and lower abdomen and back acupoints were the most-common sites.
Conclusions:
LAT seems to be an effective and safe treatment for NE; however, the quality of evidence available in the literature was relatively low. More-rigorous and higher-quality trials are needed to investigate this treatment modality further.
