Ercan Kaydok, Banu Ordahan, Sezin Solum, Ali Yavuz Karahan

Published in: Archives of Rheumatology, 2020 https://doi.org/10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2020.7347

This clinical trial compared high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) to low-intensity laser therapy (LILT) in treating lateral epicondylitis symptoms.

Sixty patients with unilateral lateral epicondylitis were randomized to receive HILT or LILT. Patients were blinded to which treatment they received. Both groups completed 9 treatment sessions in 3 weeks.

  • HILT group: Patients received treatment with a 12 W laser. The first 3 sessions used pulsed wave therapy for 75 seconds, 8 W, 6 J/cm2. The following 6 sessions used continuous wave therapy for 30 seconds, 6 W, 120-150 J/cm2.
  • LILT group: Patients received treatment from a laser with an output power of 240 mW. Treatment was given over 6 areas of the lateral epicondyle each about 0.5 cm2. Power density was 2.4 J/cm2 for 30 seconds per spot.

Study outcomes included pain assessment (VAS), upper extremity function (QDASH questionnaire), quality of life (SF-36), and grip strength.

After 3 weeks of treatment, both the HILT and LILT groups showed significant improvement in pain. Pain scores decreased by 59.7% and 53.5% for the HILT and LILT groups, respectively.

Both groups also showed significant improvement in grip strength, QDASH score, and the SF-36 physical component score. However, the HILT group had significantly better outcomes in these functional scores than the LILT group.

It can be concluded from the study that both HILT and LILT are effective treatment options for managing pain and disfunction in lateral epicondylitis, but HILT can give patients even better functional outcomes than LILT.