Effects of high and low level lasers on soreness following dry needling in patients with chronic myofascial neck pain. A randomized-controlled trial.

This research was designed to study effects of high versus low-level laser therapy (HILT and LLLT) on post-dry needling soreness (PNS) at patients with chronic neck pain. We also studied effects of HLLT or LLLT application plus dry needling (DN) on pain, range of motion (ROM), and neck disability index (NDI) at the identified patients. This is a clinical trial in 48 women with chronic neck pain aged 18-35 who were divided into three groups: HLLT, LLLT, and placebo group. All the participants received one session of DN and laser therapy. The study assessed the soreness using Visual Analog Scale for needle pain (nVAS) and Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) before, immediately after, 24 and 48 h after laser therapy. Pain, ROM, and NDI assessed before and also different time courses after DN plus laser therapy. PPT and nVAS improved in all groups over time. In the placebo group, nVAS increased significantly (p < 0.001) after treatment. VAS, NDI, and ROM improved 48 h after treatment in all groups. The VAS scores were substantially decreased (p < 0.001) immediately after treatment for LLLT group and also 24 h after treatment for both LLLT and HLLT groups. LLLT and HLLT might prevent immediately increasing the PNS. Adding one session of LLLT or HLLT to DN could effectively eliminate the neck pain at 24 h. All groups improved NDI and ROM the same. Registration number: IRCT20190411043241N1. Registered Sep 2, 2019.