Cold Laser Therapy

Authors: Chow RT, Heller GZ, Barnsley L.

CONCLUSION: A study was performed (randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled) on 90 people with chronic neck pain to determine the efficacy of an 830 nm laser, 300 mW, low-level laser therapy. They noticed that cold laser (LLLT) was effective in providing pain relief for chronic neck pain sufferers over a period of three months.

For more information and the full study go to – Pain. 2006 Sep;124(1-2):201-10. Epub 2006 Jun 27. [PMID: 16806710]

Authors: Gur A, Karakoc M, Cevik R, Nas K, Sarac AJ, Karakoc M.

The study was aimed to find out if low power laser therapy (GaAs laser) was useful for a therapy on chronic low back pain. They studied 75 patients; (25 patients laser alone, 25 patients laser and exercise, and 25 patients exercise alone).

CONCLUSION: In the treatment of chronic low back pain, low power laser therapy was an effective method in reducing pain and functional disability.

For more information see: Lasers Surg Med. 2003;32(3):233-8

Authors: Dr Roberta T Chow MBBS, Prof Mark I Johnson PhD, Prof Rodrigo AB Lopes-Martins PhD, Prof Jan M Bjordal PT

CONCLUSION: The authors identified 16 randomized controlled trials that included a total of 820 patients. They did a systematic review and meta-analysis of the trials to determine the efficacy of LLLT in neck pain. They showed that LLLT reduces pain immediately after treatment in acute neck pain and up to 22 weeks after completion of treatment in patients with chronic neck pain.

For a full study go to – The Lancet, Volume 374, Issue 9705, Pages 1897 – 1908, 5 December 2009

Authors: Simunovic Z, Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine and Surgery (Aug. 1996) 14(4):163-167.

CONCLUSION: This study was performed on >200 patients that were suffering with low back and radicular pain, skeletomuscular ailments, headaches, facial pain, myogenic neck pain, shoulder and arm pain, epicondylitis, tenosynovitis, and achilles tendonitis. They used various LLLT methods which included; infrared 820-830 nm continuous wave, 632.8 nm visible red, and 904 nm pulsed emission on “trigger points” and focal pain points due to ischemic conditions. They observed spontaneous or induced pain decreased or even disappeared by movement, mobility was restored, rigidity decreased, and microcirculation improved along with improvement of oxygen supply to hypoxic cells in the treated areas and removal of collected waste products. Results measured according to VAS/VRS/PTM: in acute pain, diminished >70%; in chronic pain >60%. They also concluded that LLLT (Cold Laser) may be used by its self or as an added supplement to other therapeutic procedures for pain treatment. No negative effects were noted with LLLT and the use of analgesic drugs could be reduced or completely excluded.

Authors: Bjordal JM, Couppe Roberta C, Chow RT, Tuner J, Ljunggren EA.

They identified 11 out of 88 randomized controlled trials that included 565 patients with chronic joint disorders that were using an appropriate and acceptable method of treatment procedures. They also added that there should be caution with treatment procedures and trial design for interpretation of the results.

CONCLUSION: Cold Laser (LLLT) gave significant reduction of pain and improvement in health status in chronic joint disorders.

For more information see: Aust J Physiother 2003;49(2):107-16

Authors: de Paiva Carvalho RL, Alcântara PS, Kamamoto F, Cressoni MD, Casarotto RA.

CONCLUSION: This was a study to investigate the efficacy of an infrared GaAlAs laser, 830 nm wavelength, on post-surgical scarring process after inguinal hernia surgery. They concluded that 830nm LLLT applied after inguinal hernia surgery was efficient is preventing keloids (excessive growth of scar tissue) from forming. In addition, cold laser (LLLT) resulted in better scar appearance and quality six months post surgery.

For the full study go to –Photomed Laser Surg. 2009 Oct 12. [PMID: 19821701]