Can addition of low level laser therapy to conventional physical therapy be beneficial for management of pain and cervical range of motion in patients with trigger point of upper trapezius?

Abstract

Objective: Trigger points commonly develop in upper trapezius muscle. These might be associated with neck pain arising from trigger points of trapezius. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of conventional physical therapy (CPT) with and without low level laser therapy (LLLT) on pain and cervical range of motion (ROM) in patients with trigger point of upper trapezius muscle.

Methodology: An RCT was conducted with a sample size of 62 patients. The study was completed within 9 months after approval of synopsis. Data were collected from Health Care Physiotherapy, Sports, Spine & Rehabilitation Center, Faisalabad (Pakistan). Patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups; 31 patients of Group-1 received low-level laser therapy with CPT, while Group-2 (n=31) patients received CPT as the only treatment protocol. Patients pain level was assessed using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and cervical ROM was measured by goniometry at baseline and subsequently at 2nd and 4th week follow-ups.

Results: Results of the study obtained by applying repeated measures ANOVA showed that there was mean reduction in pain scores from day 1 to week 4 in within group analysis of LLLT + CPT Group (Group=1) and within group analysis of CPT Group (Group=2) (p < 0.05). Statistically significant improvement was observed in all mean cervical ROMs especially for lateral flexion ROM for both groups in within group analysis (p < 0.05). Statistically significant improvement was seen in NPRS score at week four between Group-1 and 2, measured by independent sample t-test with p < 0.05. Whereas, independent sample t-test results showed no significant improvement in cervical ROMs at week four between Group-1 and 2 (p ˃ 0.05).

Conclusion: Conventional physical therapy and low level laser therapy used in combination are more effective than conventional physical therapy alone in patients of trigger points of upper trapezius.

Citation: Waseem I, Tanveer F, Fatima A. Can addition of low level laser therapy to conventional physical therapy be beneficial for management of pain and cervical range of motion in patients with trigger point of upper trapezius? Anaesth pain & intensiv care 2019;23(2):__

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35975/apic.v24i1.

Received – 4 September 2019,

Reviewed – 31 December 2019, 26 January 2020,

Revised – 18 March 2020,

Accepted – 9 May 2019