Efficacy of laser therapy in painful shoulder syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: low intensity laser therapy is used in rheumatological and musculoskeletal diseases due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and biostimulant effects.

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of laser therapy in the treatment of painful shoulder syndrome.

Methods: a pre-experimental before-after study was carried out in the Basic Hospital of the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security of Guaranda, in the period August/2016-July/2017. The universe consisted of 457 patients over 15 years of age with a diagnosis of painful shoulder syndrome with signs of subacromial impingement or rotator cuff rupture, with less than three months of evolution and no response to allopathic treatment. Treatment with laser therapy was carried out and it was evaluated, before and after, with the visual analog scale for the intensity of pain and the Constant scale to assess joint function. The ethical precepts were fulfilled.

Results: prevailed between 40 and 59 years (54,49 %) and in the female sex (63,68 %). The therapy achieved a positive and significant modification of the intensity of referred pain (p = 0,000) and the independence of daily activities (p = 0,000). The persistence of pain was associated with older ages (p = 0,041). The right shoulder was the most injured (52,74 %) and tendinitis (32,60 %), the most frequently observed diagnosis.

Conclusions: the applied laser therapy was effective in achieving a positive and significant modification of the intensity of the pain referred by the patient and the independence of the activities of daily living, with age associated with the persistence of pain