Efficacy of low-level laser therapy combined with exercise for subacromial impingement syndrome: A randomised controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) combined with exercise on shoulder pain and disability in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Design: Randomised controlled trial. Setting: Pontifical Catholic University. Subjects: We enrolled 120 subacromial impingement syndrome patients Intervention: Groups I (n = 42), II (n = 42) and III (n = 36) were treated with Low-level laser therapy and exercise, exercise only and Low-level laser therapy only, respectively. Interventions were conducted three times a week for 8 weeks. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was the change in shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). Secondary outcomes included changes in the numeric pain rating scale and medication intake. Results: Average ages of patients in groups I, II and III were 51.9 +/- 8.7 years, 56.0 +/- 10.4 years and 54.2 +/- 7.1 years, respectively. Pain scores at baseline (P = 0.829), 2 months (P = 0.057) and 3 months follow-ups (p = 0.004) were 6.8 (4.7-7.7), 0.2 (0.0-0.5) and 0.3 (0.0-1.0) for group I; 6.6 (5.7-8.0), 0.5 (0.2-2.0) and 0.2 (0.0-3.3) for group II; and 6.5 (5.1-7.4), 2.4 (0.1-6.7) and 4.0 (2.0-5.0) for group III, respectively. SPADI scores at baseline (P = 0.029), 2 months (P < 0.001) and 3 months follow-ups (P = 0.001) were 60.8 (37.7-70.8), 3.8 (0.0-10.8) and 2.3 (0.8-10.8) for group I; 61.5 (41.5-71.5), 9.2 (3.8-29.2) and 14.2 (1.5-38.0) for the group II; and 73.3 (59.2-80.8), 34.2 (16.9-54.6) and 33.1 (22.3-49.2) for the group III, respectively. Conclusion: Low-level laser therapy combined with exercises reduce pain intensity, improve shoulder function and reduces pain intensity and medication intake over 3 months.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated that low-level laser therapy combined with exercise effectively reduced shoulder pain and disability in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, leading to improved shoulder function and decreased pain intensity and medication intake over a 3-month period.