title: Effects of low-level laser therapy and eccentric exercises in the treatment of recreational athletes with chronic achilles tendinopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eccentric exercises (EEs) are recommended for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy, but the clinical effect from EE has a slow onset.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The addition of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to EE may cause more rapid clinical improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 52 recreational athletes with chronic Achilles tendinopathy symptoms were randomized to groups receiving either EE + LLLT or EE + placebo LLLT over 8 weeks in a blinded manner. Low-level laser therapy (lambda = 820 nm) was administered in 12 sessions by irradiating 6 points along the Achilles tendon with a power density of 60 mW/cm(2) and a total dose of 5.4 J per session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the intention-to-treat analysis for the primary outcome, pain intensity during physical activity on the 100-mm visual analog scale, were significantly lower in the LLLT group than in the placebo LLLT group, with 53.6 mm versus 71.5 mm (P = .0003) at 4 weeks, 37.3 mm versus 62.8 mm (P = .0002) at 8 weeks, and 33.0 mm versus 53.0 mm (P = .007) at 12 weeks after randomization. Secondary outcomes of morning stiffness, active dorsiflexion, palpation tenderness, and crepitation showed the same pattern in favor of the LLLT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-level laser therapy, with the parameters used in this study, accelerates clinical recovery from chronic Achilles tendinopathy when added to an EE regimen. For the LLLT group, the results at 4 weeks were similar to the placebo LLLT group results after 12 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Therapy, Bergen University College, Mollendalsvn 6, 5009 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stergioulas
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stergioula
authors.forename: Reidar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aarskog
authors.forename: Rodrigo A B
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lopes-Martins
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bjordal
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011998:Recreation; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome