Efficacy of mobilisation with movement in chronic shoulder pain: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials

Introduction Shoulder pain affects approximately one in four adults and is thus one of the most common musculoskeletal problems. Only 50% of patients who begin treatment for shoulder pain are cured within 6 months. There is a need for systematic reviews to estimate the effectiveness of shoulder treatments. We decided to evaluate the effect of mobilisation with movement (MWM) on chronic shoulder pain in a systematic review. Methods and analysis The review will include controlled trial articles identified via five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Physiotherapy Evidence Database and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), reference lists, citations searches and experts in the field. Only controlled trials involving participants with a mean duration of pain of ≥3 months, in which the effectiveness of MWM has been compared with non-invasive treatments, sham mobilisation or wait-and-see will be included. The included trials will be synthesised with random effects meta-analyses. Risk-of-bias will be assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database 0–10 point scale. Ethics and dissemination The review does not require ethics approval as it is based on anonymised data from trial reports. The results of the review will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication.publishedVersio

Photobiomodulation Therapy is Able to Modulate PGE2 Levels in Patients With Chronic Non‐Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Trial

Background and Objectives Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is responsible for triggering increased biomarkers levels. In this way, photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) may be an interesting alternative to treat these patients. One of the possible biological mechanisms of PBMT involved to decrease pain intensity in patients with musculoskeletal disorders is modulation of the inflammatory mediators’ levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PBMT compared with placebo on inflammatory mediators’ levels and pain intensity in patients with chronic non-specific LBP. Study Design/Materials and Methods A prospectively registered, randomized triple-blinded (volunteers, therapists, and assessors), placebo-controlled trial was performed. Eighteen patients with chronic non-specific LBP were recruited and treated with a single session of active PBMT or placebo PBMT. The primary outcome of the study was serum prostaglandin E2 levels and the secondary outcomes were tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 levels, and pain intensity. All outcomes were measured before and after 15 minutes of treatment session. Results PBMT was able to decrease prostaglandin E2 levels at post-treatment compared with placebo, with a mean difference of −1470 pg/ml, 95% confidence interval −2906 to −33.67 in patients with LBP. There was no difference between groups in the other measured outcomes. Patients did not report any adverse events. Conclusion Our results suggest that PBMT was able to modulate prostaglandin E2 levels, indicating that this may be one of the mechanisms involved in the analgesic effects of PBMT in patients with LBP.publishedVersio

Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy Associated with Strength Training in Knee Osteoarthritis: Protocol for a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Physical activity and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can reduce knee osteoarthritis (KOA) inflammation. We are conducting a randomized placebo-controlled trial to investigate the long-term effectiveness of LLLT combined with strength training (ST) in persons with KOA, since it, to our knowledge, has not been investigated before. Fifty participants were enrolled. LLLT and ST was performed 3 times per week over 3 and 8 weeks, respectively. In the LLLT group, 3 Joules of 904 nm wavelength laser was applied to 15 spots per knee (45 Joules/knee/session). The primary outcomes are pain during movement, at night and at rest (Visual Analogue Scale) and global pain (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, KOOS) pain subscale. The secondary outcomes are KOOS disability and quality-of-life, analgesic usage, global health change, knee active range of motion, 30 s chair stand, maximum painless isometric knee extension strength, knee pain pressure threshold and real-time ultrasonography-assessed suprapatellar effusion, meniscal neovascularization and femur cartilage thickness. All the outcomes are assessed 0, 3, 8, 26 and 52 weeks post-randomization, except for global health change, which is only evaluated at completed ST. This study features the blinding of participants, assessors and therapists, and will improve our understanding of what occurs with the local pathophysiology, tissue morphology and clinical status of persons with KOA up to a year after the initiation of ST and a higher 904 nm LLLT dose than in any published trial on this topic.publishedVersio

Short-and Long-Term Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy Combined with Strength Training in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Both physical activity and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can reduce knee osteoarthritis (KOA) inflammation. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to investigate the short- and long-term effectiveness of LLLT combined with strength training in persons with KOA. Methods: Fifty participants were randomly divided in two groups, one with LLLT plus strength training (n = 26) and one with placebo LLLT plus strength training (n = 24). LLLT and strength training were performed triweekly for 3 and 8 weeks, respectively. In the laser group, 3 joules 904 nm wavelength laser was applied to fifteen points (45 joules) per knee per session. Patient-reported outcomes, physical tests, and ultrasonography assessments were performed at baseline and 3, 8, 26, and 52 weeks after initial LLLT or placebo therapy. The primary outcomes were pain on movement, at rest, at night (Visual Analogue Scale), and globally (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscale). Parametric data were assessed with analysis of variance using Šidák’s correction. Results: There were no significant between-group differences in the primary outcomes. However, in the laser group there was a significantly reduced number of participants using analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and increased performance in the sit-to-stand test versus placebo-control at week 52. The joint line pain pressure threshold (PPT) improved more in the placebo group than in the laser group, but only significantly at week 8. No other significant treatment effects were present. However, pain on movement and joint line PPT were worse in the placebo group at baseline, and therefore, it had more room for improvement. The short-term percentage of improvement in the placebo group was much higher than in similar trials. Conclusions: Pain was reduced substantially in both groups. LLLT seemed to provide a positive add-on effect in the follow-up period in terms of reduced pain medication usage and increased performance in the sit-to-stand test.publishedVersio

Superpulsed low-level laser therapy protects skeletal muscle of mdx mice against damage, inflammation and morphological changes delaying dystrophy progression.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of preventive treatment with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on progression of dystrophy in mdx mice. Methods: Ten animals were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups treated with superpulsed LLLT (904 nm, 15 mW, 700 Hz, 1 J) or placebo-LLLT at one point overlying the tibialis anterior muscle (bilaterally) 5 times per week for 14 weeks (from 6th to 20th week of age). Morphological changes, creatine kinase (CK) activity and mRNA gene expression were assessed in animals at 20th week of age. Results: Animals treated with LLLT showed very few morphological changes in skeletal muscle, with less atrophy and fibrosis than animals treated with placebo-LLLT. CK was significantly lower (p = 0.0203) in animals treated with LLLT (864.70 U.l−1, SEM 226.10) than placebo (1708.00 U.l−1, SEM 184.60). mRNA gene expression of inflammatory markers was significantly decreased by treatment with LLLT (p<0.05): TNF-α (placebo-control = 0.51 µg/µl [SEM 0.12], - LLLT = 0.048 µg/µl [SEM 0.01]), IL-1β (placebo-control = 2.292 µg/µl [SEM 0.74], - LLLT = 0.12 µg/µl [SEM 0.03]), IL-6 (placebo-control = 3.946 µg/µl [SEM 0.98], - LLLT = 0.854 µg/µl [SEM 0.33]), IL-10 (placebo-control = 1.116 µg/µl [SEM 0.22], - LLLT = 0.352 µg/µl [SEM 0.15]), and COX-2 (placebo-control = 4.984 µg/µl [SEM 1.18], LLLT = 1.470 µg/µl [SEM 0.73]). Conclusion: Irradiation of superpulsed LLLT on successive days five times per week for 14 weeks decreased morphological changes, skeletal muscle damage and inflammation in mdx mice. This indicates that LLLT has potential to decrease progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

A systematic review with procedural assessments and meta-analysis of Low Level Laser Therapy in lateral elbow tendinopathy (tennis elbow)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent reviews have indicated that low level level laser therapy (LLLT) is ineffective in lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) without assessing validity of treatment procedures and doses or the influence of prior steroid injections.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Systematic review with meta-analysis, with primary outcome measures of pain relief and/or global improvement and subgroup analyses of methodological quality, wavelengths and treatment procedures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>18 randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) were identified with 13 RCTs (730 patients) meeting the criteria for meta-analysis. 12 RCTs satisfied half or more of the methodological criteria. Publication bias was detected by Egger's graphical test, which showed a negative direction of bias. Ten of the trials included patients with poor prognosis caused by failed steroid injections or other treatment failures, or long symptom duration or severe baseline pain. The weighted mean difference (WMD) for pain relief was 10.2 mm [95% CI: 3.0 to 17.5] and the RR for global improvement was 1.36 [1.16 to 1.60]. Trials which targeted acupuncture points reported negative results, as did trials with wavelengths 820, 830 and 1064 nm. In a subgroup of five trials with 904 nm lasers and one trial with 632 nm wavelength where the lateral elbow tendon insertions were directly irradiated, WMD for pain relief was 17.2 mm [95% CI: 8.5 to 25.9] and 14.0 mm [95% CI: 7.4 to 20.6] respectively, while RR for global pain improvement was only reported for 904 nm at 1.53 [95% CI: 1.28 to 1.83]. LLLT doses in this subgroup ranged between 0.5 and 7.2 Joules. Secondary outcome measures of painfree grip strength, pain pressure threshold, sick leave and follow-up data from 3 to 8 weeks after the end of treatment, showed consistently significant results in favour of the same LLLT subgroup (p < 0.02). No serious side-effects were reported.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>LLLT administered with optimal doses of 904 nm and possibly 632 nm wavelengths directly to the lateral elbow tendon insertions, seem to offer short-term pain relief and less disability in LET, both alone and in conjunction with an exercise regimen. This finding contradicts the conclusions of previous reviews which failed to assess treatment procedures, wavelengths and optimal doses.</p

An experimental study of low-level laser therapy in rat Achilles tendon injury

The aim of this controlled animal study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) administered 30 min after injury to the Achilles tendon. The study animals comprised 16 Sprague Dawley male rats divided in two groups. The right Achilles tendons were injured by blunt trauma using a mini guillotine, and were treated with LLLT or placebo LLLT 30 min later. The injury and LLLT procedures were then repeated 15 hours later on the same tendon. One group received active LLLT (λ = 904 nm, 60 mW mean output power, 0.158 W/cm2 for 50 s, energy 3 J) and the other group received placebo LLLT 23 hours after LLLT. Ultrasonographic images were taken to measure the thickness of the right and left Achilles tendons. Animals were then killed, and all Achilles tendons were tested for ultimate tensile strength (UTS). All analyses were performed by blinded observers. There was a significant increase in tendon thickness in the active LLLT group when compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05) and there were no significant differences between the placebo and uninjured left tendons. There were no significant differences in UTS between laser-treated, placebo-treated and uninjured tendons. Laser irradiation of the Achilles tendon at 0.158 W/cm2 for 50 s (3 J) administered within the first 30 min after blunt trauma, and repeated after 15 h, appears to lead to edema of the tendon measured 23 hours after LLLT. The guillotine blunt trauma model seems suitable for inflicting tendon injury and measuring the effects of treatment on edema by ultrasonography and UTS. More studies are needed to further refine this model

Biophysical and biological effects from infrared Low-Level-Laser-Therapy

Introduction: Physiotherapists have since the early days of the profession utilized electro physical agents (EPAs) as part of their intervention toolbox. A prerequisite for application of all EPAs is that the applied energy affects biological processes in the body tissue. Low level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used as an intervention for the last three decades to modulate processes in pathological tissue beneath the skin. However, the photoprotective property of the skin is a significant barrier to optical energy applied by LLLT devices. The irradiated electromagnetic energy from LLLT first interacts with the skin where biophysical processes occur. The penetrating part of the energy will then act as an active ingredient in biological processes in subcutaneous tissue. Aim: The overall aim of this Thesis was to investigate biophysical and biological effects from commercial infrared LLLT devices commonly used in clinical physiotherapy practice. Methods: Study I was designed as a blinded placebo-controlled study of repeated measures. The thermal effects from different doses of irradiation from two infrared class 3B lasers was investigated in situ in human skin of different skin colours, age and genders. Study II was a basic research study of repeated measures design. The time-profile for energy penetration through skin during 150 sec of irradiation from two infrared class 3B lasers was elucidated in vivo in rat skin. Study III was designed as a double-blind randomized controlled trial on effect from a 3 J irradiation dose in situ/in vivo in acute rat Achilles tendons trauma. Results: There was a positive correlation between increasing irradiation doses and increased skin temperature for both lasers in all groups of participants. The skin temperature increased significantly (p<0.01) more in dark skin during laser irradiation than in light skin, regardless of irradiated doses and laser type. There were no significant differences in skin temperature between genders or age groups during laser irradiation. The percentage of energy penetrating through rat skin from the λ=810 nm laser was constant (20%) during 150 seconds of exposure, while skin penetration from the λ=904 nm laser increased almost linearly (38%-58%) and by 50% during the 150 sec of irradiation. The percentage of energy penetrating through rat skin during irradiation was significantly (p<0.01) higher from the λ=904 nm laser than from the λ=810 nm laser at all measured time-points. The biological effect from 3 J half an hour after trauma was significant (p<0.05) increased tendon thickness (including the peritendon) in injured Achilles tendons compared to animal’s healthy Achilles tendon in the active-LLLT group. These tendon thickness differences were insignificant (p=0.35) in the placebo-LLLT group. There were no significant differences in UTS in any group. Conclusions: This project has revealed that the biophysical properties of two common types of LLLT devices; λ=810 nm and λ=904 nm, yield significantly different thermal effects in human skin and possess significant different optical penetration abilities in rat skin. These biophysical properties of infrared class 3B lasers are of scientific value as no studies so far have dealt with these effects. These findings support the differentiation made in WALT dosage recommendations for these two types of lasers. The thermal effects in light and medium coloured skin were negligible (<1.5°C) for WALT recommended doses from both laser types, so were the thermal effects in dark skin from the λ=904 nm, 60 mW MOP laser (<2°C). In contrast, the λ=810 nm, 200 mW caused thermal effects (<9°C) above the pain threshold, and indicate that these LLLT devices parameters are probably unsuitable for clinical use in patients with dark skin. The project also revealed that LLLT irradiation can exacerbate the acute inflammatory process in terms of increased oedema formation. Possible explanations for this somewhat surprising finding include that half an hour may be too early to initiate LLLT after trauma, or that a recently LLLT-treated injured tendon may be more vulnerable than untreated tendons to a repeated injury, or simply that the dose was too high. Future studies are needed to determine these issues

The Thermal Effects of Therapeutic Lasers with 810 and 904nm Wavelengths on Human Skin

Objective: To investigate the effect of therapeutic infrared class 3B laser irradiation on skin temperature in healthy participants of differing skin color, age, and gender. Background: Little is known about the potential thermal effects of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) irradiation on human skin. Methods: Skin temperature was measured in 40 healthy volunteers with a thermographic camera at laser irradiated and control (non-irradiated) areas on the skin. Six irradiation doses (2–12 J) were delivered from a 200mW, 810nm laser and a 60mW, 904nm laser, respectively. Results: Thermal effects of therapeutic LLLT using doses recommended in the World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) guidelines were insignificant; below 1.58C in light, medium, and dark skin. When higher irradiation doses were used, the 60mW, 904 nm laser produced significantly (p<0.01) higher temperatures in dark skin (5.7, SD 1.88C at 12 J) than in light skin, although no participants requested termination of LLLT. However, irradiation with a 200mW, 810nm laser induced three to six times more heat in dark skin than in the other skin color groups. Eight of 13 participants with dark skin asked for LLLT to be stopped because of uncomfortable heating. The maximal increase in skin temperature was 22.38C. Conclusions: The thermal effects of LLLT at doses recommended by WALT-guidelines for musculoskeletal and inflammatory conditions are negligible (<1.58C) in light, medium, and dark skin. However, higher LLLT doses delivered with a strong 3B laser (200mW) are capable of increasing skin temperature significantly and these photothermal effects may exceed the thermal pain threshold for humans with dark skin color

Skin Penetration Time-Profiles for Continuous 810nm and Superpulsed 904nm Lasers in a Rat Model

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rat skin penetration abilities of two commercially available low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices during 150 sec of irradiation. Background data: Effective LLLT irradiation typically lasts from 20 sec up to a few minutes, but the LLLT time-profiles for skin penetration of light energy have not yet been investigated. Materials and methods: Sixty-two skin flaps overlaying rat’s gastrocnemius muscles were harvested and immediately irradiated with LLLT devices. Irradiation was performed either with a 810 nm, 200mW continuous wave laser, or with a 904 nm, 60mW superpulsed laser, and the amount of penetrating light energy was measured by an optical power meter and registered at seven time points (range, 1–150 sec). Results: With the continuous wave 810nm laser probe in skin contact, the amount of penetrating light energy was stable at *20% (SEM – 0.6) of the initial optical output during 150 sec irradiation. However, irradiation with the superpulsed 904 nm, 60mW laser showed a linear increase in penetrating energy from 38% (SEM – 1.4) to 58% (SEM – 3.5) during 150 sec of exposure. The skin penetration abilities were significantly different ( p < 0.01) between the two lasers at all measured time points. Conclusions: LLLT irradiation through rat skin leaves sufficient subdermal light energy to influence pathological processes and tissue repair. The finding that superpulsed 904nm LLLT light energy penetrates 2–3 easier through the rat skin barrier than 810nm continuous wave LLLT, corresponds well with results of LLLT dose analyses in systematic reviews of LLLT in musculoskeletal disorders. This may explain why the differentiation between these laser types has been needed in the clinical dosage recommendations of World Association for Laser Therapy