Hakgüder Aral, Birtane Murat, Gürcan Süleyman, Kokino Siranuş, Turan Fatma Nesrin
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
Lasers Surg Med. 2003;33(5):339-43. doi: 10.1002/lsm.10241.
The efficacy of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) seems controversial. Our aim was to clarify the effect of LLLT in MPS by using algometry and thermography.
STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients with MPS having an active trigger point in the neck or upper back region were randomly divided into two equal groups according to therapy applied (group 1: LLLT + stretching exercises, group 2: stretching exercises alone). The outcome measures were pain measured with visual analogue scale (VAS), algometry on the trigger point, algometric difference, thermographic difference, and thermal asymmetry. Comparison was made within and between the groups pre- and post-therapeutically and 3 weeks after therapy.
Mean pain values decreased more significantly in group 1 from baseline to 3 weeks follow up (7.54-3.06) while these values were 7.03-5.19 in group 2 (P < 0.05). Group comparisons revealed significant favorable differences in group 1 patients in terms of all other parameters at the first and the second evaluation post therapeutically (P < 0.05).
LLLT seemed to be beneficial for pain in MPS by using algometry and thermography.
低强度激光疗法（LLLT）治疗肌筋膜疼痛综合征（MPS）的疗效似乎存在争议。我们的目的是通过使用痛觉测量法和热成像技术来阐明LLLT对MPS的影响。
研究设计/材料与方法：62例在颈部或上背部区域有活跃触发点的MPS患者，根据所采用的治疗方法随机分为两组（第1组：LLLT + 拉伸运动，第2组：仅拉伸运动）。观察指标包括用视觉模拟量表（VAS）测量的疼痛、触发点的痛觉测量、痛觉测量差异、热成像差异和热不对称性。在治疗前、治疗后及治疗后3周对组内和组间进行比较。
从基线到随访3周，第1组的平均疼痛值下降更为显著（7.54 - 3.06），而第2组为7.03 - 5.19（P < 0.05）。组间比较显示，治疗后第1次和第2次评估时，第1组患者在所有其他参数方面均有显著的有利差异（P < 0.05）。
通过使用痛觉测量法和热成像技术，LLLT似乎对MPS的疼痛有益。
