title: The effects of low intensity laser on clinical and electrophysiological parameters of carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common type of entrapment neuropathy. Conservative therapy is usually considered as the first step in the management of CTS. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is among the new physical modalities, which has shown therapeutic effects in CTS. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of applying LASER and splinting together with splinting alone in patients with CTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with mild and moderate CTS who met inclusion criteria were included in this study. The disease was confirmed by electrodiagnostic study (EDx) and clinical findings. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A received LLLT and splinting. Group B received sham LLLT+ splinting and group C received only splints. Group A received LLLT (50 mw and 880nm with total dose of 6 joule/cm(2)). Clinical and EDx parameters were evaluated before and after treatment (3 weeks and 2 months later).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electrophysiologic parameters and clinical findings including CTS provocative tests, Symptoms severity score (SSS), Functional Severity Score (FSS) and Visual Analogue Score (VAS) were improved in all three groups at 3 weeks and 2 months after treatment. No significant changes were noticed between the three groups regarding clinical and EDX parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no superiority in applying Low Intensity Laser accompanying splinting to traditional treatment which means splinting alone in patients with CTS. However, future studies investigating LLLT with parameters other than the one used in this study may reveal different results in favor of LLLT.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Shohada-e-Tajrish Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mansoor
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rayegani
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Shohada-e-Tajrish Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hasan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bahrami
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Shohada-e-Tajrish Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Darisuh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eliaspour
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Shahid Modarres Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Raeissadat
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Shohada-e-Tajrish Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shafi Tabar Samakoosh
authors.affiliation: Laser Application in Medical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sedihgipour
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Shohada-e-Tajrish Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kargozar
keywords: CTS; electrodiagnoses; laser therapy; low level