The effectiveness of low level laser therapy in acute neck pain due to cervical disc herniation

The Effectiveness of Low Level Laser Therapy in Acute Neck Pain Due to Cervical Disc Herniation Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate clinical effects of low level laser therapy in patients with acute neck pain due to cervical disc herniation. Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Materials and Methods: 230 patients who were admitted to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Balcalı Hospital with neck and/or unilateral arm pain were evaluated between March 2012- May 2013. 60 patients who were meeting the study criteria and agreed to participate in the study were allocated two groups. ?. Group (n:30) was treated with active LLLT and ?. Group (n:30) was treated with placebo LLLT five times weekly for a total of 15 treatments. Active LLLT was applied to the six points while probe held stationary in contact with skin, for 120 seconds each point, with the 905 nm wavelength GaAs laser, and dose of 2 J/cm² at each point, at whole doses 12 J. Patients were assessed before treatment and at the end of the 3-week treatment period. Pain intensity was measured by a visual analog scale (VAS). Other outcome measures were Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS) and quality of life. Results: Statistically significant differences between groups were not found for intensity of arm, neck and night pain and also NPDS and SF-36 scores. Conclusion: LLLT did not gave more effective relief of neck pain in patients with acute neck pain due to cervical disc herniation. Key words: Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), acute neck pain, cervical disc herniation