Efficacy of low power laser therapy and exercise on pain and functions in chronic low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether low power laser therapy (Gallium-Arsenide) is useful or not for the therapy of chronic low back pain (LBP).


METHODS
This study included 75 patients (laser + exercise-25, laser alone-25, and exercise alone-25) with LBP. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Schober test, flexion and lateral flexion measures, Roland Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) and Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) were used in the clinical and functional evaluations pre and post therapeutically. A physician, who was not aware of the therapy undertaken, evaluated the patients.


RESULTS
Significant improvements were noted in all groups with respect to all outcome parameters, except lateral flexion (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Low power laser therapy seemed to be an effective method in reducing pain and functional disability in the therapy of chronic LBP.
Gur
Ali
A
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. alig@dicle.edu.tr
Karakoc
Mehmet
M
Cevik
Remzi
R
Nas
Kemal
K
Sarac
Aysegul Jale
AJ
Karakoc
Meral
M
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome