Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for lateral elbow tendinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of low-lever laser therapy (LLLT) in the management of lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) and to provide recommendations based on this evidence.


BACKGROUND
LET is a common clinical condition, and a wide array of physiotherapy treatments is used for treating LET.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified by a search strategy in six databases were used in combination with reference checking. RCTs that included LLLT, patients with LET, and at least one of the clinically relevant outcome measure were selected. Aqualitative analysis of the selected studies was conducted using the Chalmers' technique.


RESULTS
Nine RCTs fulfilled the criteria and were included in the review. Although these studies had satisfactory methodology, shortcomings were not absent; poor results were revealed as to the effectiveness of LLLT for LET management.


CONCLUSIONS
LLLT need not be ruled out for LET as it is a dose-response modality, and the optimal treatment dose has obviously not yet have been discovered. Further research with well-designed RCTs is needed to establish the absolute and relative effectiveness of this intervention for LET.
Stasinopoulos
Dimitrios I
DI
School of Health and Human Sciences, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK. d_stasinopoulos@yahoo.gr
Johnson
Mark I
MI
D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome