High-intensity versus low-level laser in musculoskeletal disorders
Marwa Shafiek Saleh1,2, Mostafa Shahien3, Hossam Mortada4
1Basic Science Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Lasers in Medical Science
|July 11, 2024
Summary
This review found no significant difference between low-level laser therapy and high-level laser therapy for most musculoskeletal disorders. More research is needed to confirm findings on laser therapy effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Physical Therapy
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Musculoskeletal disorders represent a significant health burden, impacting quality of life and function.
- Laser therapy, encompassing low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and high-level laser therapy (HILT), is utilized for pain relief and tissue healing.
- Comparative evidence on the efficacy of LLLT versus HILT for musculoskeletal conditions remains inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and compare the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) against high-level laser therapy (HILT) in treating various musculoskeletal disorders.
- To identify any potential superiorities of one laser therapy modality over the other based on current scientific evidence.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive search of five databases was conducted up to September 2022 to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Studies comparing HILT and LLLT for musculoskeletal conditions were included.
- Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, and a meta-analysis was performed on homogeneous studies.
Main Results:
- Twelve RCTs involving 704 participants with conditions like tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain, knee arthritis, plantar fasciitis, and subacromial impingement were analyzed.
- No statistically significant differences were observed between LLLT and HILT regarding pain, electrophysiological parameters, disability, quality of life, postural sway, or pressure algometry.
- LLLT demonstrated superiority in enhancing grip strength, while HILT showed advantages in improving biceps diameter, supraspinatus characteristics (thickness, echogenicity), and acromio-humeral distance.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support the superiority of either low-level or high-level laser therapy for the general treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
- Further high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes are necessary to establish definitive conclusions on the comparative efficacy of LLLT and HILT.
