Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized, placebo controlled, prospective study

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy [LLLT] in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods: A total of 60 patients with SIS were randomly assigned into a laser or a placebo group. All participants also received 15 sessions of superficial heat treatment, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy, and an exercise program. Outcomes were global pain severity, active and passive shoulder range of motion (ROM), and disability assessed by the Turkish Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH-T) Outcome Measurement. Results: There were statistically significant improvements in all outcome measurements in both groups. In comparison of both groups, median active and passive flexion, active and passive abduction, passive internal rotation, and passive external rotation scores were significantly higher in the laser group after the treatment (p=0.015, P=0.004, p=0.048, p=0.014, p=0.031, and p=0.044, respectively), but median differences in both groups were similar (P>0.05). The median differences for global visual analogue scale pain and DASH-T scores, in both groups were also similar (P>0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrated that both treatments provided improvement in pain, ROM, and disability status, but LLLT did not provide additional improvements.