title: The effects of two different low level laser therapies in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two different laser therapy regimens on pain, lumbar range of motions (ROM) and functional capacity in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty nine patients with CLBP were randomly assigned into two groups. Group 1 (n= 20) received hot-pack + laser therapy 1 (wavelength of 850 nm Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide (Ga-Al-As) laser); group 2 (n= 29) received hot-pack + laser therapy 2 (wavelength of 650 nm Helyum-Neon (He-Ne), 785 ve 980 nm Gal-Al-As combined plaque laser) for 15 sessions. Pain severity, patient's and physician's global assessments were evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS). Modified Schober test, right and left lateral flexion measurements were done. Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) was used for evaluation of functional disability. Measurements were done before and after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment there were statistically significant improvements in pain severity, patient's and physician's global assessment, ROM and MODQ scores in both groups (P< 0.05). After the treatment there were statistically significant differences between the groups in lateral flexion measurements and MODQ scores (P< 0.05) except in pain severity, Modified Schober test, patient's and physician's global assessments (P> 0.05) in favor of those patients who received combined plaque laser therapy (group 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser therapy applied with combined He-Ne and Ga-Al-As provides more improvements in lateral flexion measurements and disability of the patients, however no superiority of the two different laser devices to one another were detected on pain severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Rehabilitation and Medicine, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Şebnem
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Koldaş Doğan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Rehabilitation and Medicine, School of Medicine, Ufuk University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saime
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ay
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapy and Rehabilitation, Haymana Vocational Health School, Ankara University, Haymana, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evcik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
keywords: Low level laser therapy; chronic low back pain; functional capacity; pain severity