• Pain Med · May 2017

    Randomized Controlled Trial

    Laser Acupuncture Treatment Improves Pain and Functional Status in Patients with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Study.

    • Sibel Kibar, Hatice Ecem Konak, Deniz Evcik, and Saime Ay.
    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ufuk University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
    • Pain Med. 2017 May 1; 18 (5): 980-987.

    ObjectiveThe present study aims to determine the effect of laser acupuncture in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS).DesignRandomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study.SettingPhysical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic.SubjectsA total 73 patients with SAIS were randomly assigned into a treatment group (n = 36) and a control group (n = 37).MethodsThe treatment group received laser acupuncture, and the control group received sham laser acupuncture. Eleven acupuncture points (GB 21, LI 4, LI 11, LI 14, LI 15, LI 16, SI 9, SI 10, SI 11, TE 14, and TE 15) were irradiated using a gallium-aluminium-arsenide continuous wave diode-laser, with a wavelength of 850 nm and a power output of 100 mV. The laser acupuncture treatment at each acupuncture point was administered at 4 joules/cm 2 (total dose = 40 joules). All patients were also treated with a hot pack. The patients were assessed at baseline and after 15 sessions of laser treatment. Pain severity and doctor's and patient's global assessments were measured via visual analog scale (VAS). Range of motion (ROM) and functional status were measured using a digital inclinometer and the Shoulder Pain Disability Index, respectively.ResultsStatistically significant improvements were observed in all parameters in the treatment group. All parameters of pain and functional status in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group at week 3.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the effect of laser acupuncture in SAIS. The positive results of the present study should lead to further laser acupuncture studies with combinations of different acupuncture points, at different wavelengths, and with long-term follow-up periods.© 2016 American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

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