| Author, Year, Followup,a Pain Duration, Study Quality | Intervention | Population | Function and Pain Outcomes | Other Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Basford, 1999142 2 months Duration of pain: 4.5 vs. 6.5 months Fair | A. Nd:YAG laser (542 mW/cm2, 90 seconds, two sites, applied to eight points along L2 to S3 paraspinal tissues) (n=27) 12 sessions over 4 weeks B. Sham laser (n=29) | A vs. B Age: 48 vs.48 years Female: 40% vs. 55% Baseline ODI: 21 vs. 25 Baseline maximal pain, last 24 hours (0-100 VAS): 35.2 vs. 37.4 | A vs. B 2 months ODI (0-100): 14.7 vs. 22.9, difference −8.2 (95% CI −13.6 to −2.8); p=0.004 Maximal pain in last 24 hours (0-100 VAS): 19.1 vs. 35.1, difference −16.0 (95% CI −28.3 to −3.7); p=0.012 | A vs. B 2 months Patient perception of benefit (VAS, lower = less pain): 28.3 vs. 37.8 (95% CI −20.9 to 1.9); p=0.101 |
Djavid, 2007170 1.5 months Duration of pain: 29 months vs. 29 months vs. 25 months Fair | A. GaAs laser (wavelength 810 nm, 50 mW wave, and 0.2211 cm2 spot area laser applied to 8 points along L2 to S2-S3 paraspinal tissues, dose 27 J/cm2) (n=16) 12 sessions over 6 weeks B. Low-level laser therapy plus exercise (n=19) C. Exercise plus sham laser (strengthening, stretching, mobilizing, coordination) (n=18) | A vs. B vs. C Age: 40 vs. 38 vs. 36 years Female: 5% vs. 7% vs. 2% Baseline ODI (0-100): 33.0 vs. 31.8 Baseline pain (0-10 VAS): 7.3 vs. 6.3 | A vs. C 1.5 months ODI (0-100): 20.8 vs. 24.1, difference in change from baseline −4.4 (95% CI −11.4 to 2.5) Pain (0-10 VAS): 4.4 vs. 4.3, difference in change from baseline −0.9 (95% CI −2.5 to 0.7) A vs. B 1.5 months ODI (0-100): 20.8 vs. 16.8 difference in change from baseline −4.4 (95% CI −11.4 to 2.5) Pain (0-10 VAS): 4.4 vs. 2.4, difference in change from baseline −0.9 (95% CI −2.5 to 0.7) | NR |
Soriano, 1998141 6 months Duration of pain: greater than 3 months Poor | A GaAs laser (wavelength 904 nm, pulse frequency 10,000 Hz, pulse width 200 nsec, peak power 20W, average power 40mW, administered at dose of 4 J/cm2 per point to pain areas) (n=38) 10 sessions over 5 weeks B. Sham laser (n=33) | A vs. B Age: 63 vs. 64 years Female: 58% vs. 52% Baseline function: NR Baseline pain (1 to 10): 7.9 vs. 8.1 | 6 months No pain: 44.7% vs. 15%; p<0.01 | Pain recurrence in subgroup of patients with a good or excellent response at end of treatment: 35 % vs. 70%; p=NR |
Unless otherwise noted, followup time is calculated from the end of the treatment period
From: Results
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