Comparison of low-level laser therapy versus peripheral magnetic stimulation in the treatment of acute and subacute low back pain
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Low back pain is a common problem in adults. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has evidence supporting its effectiveness in pain reduction in the acute treatment of patients. Only a few studies about peripheral magnetic stimulation (PMS) have confirmed its efficacy in acute patients.
Objective: Compare the pain scale, range of motion of the lumbar spine, and the impact of back pain on daily living in acute and subacute patients before and after treatment, as well as between groups.
Methods: Volunteers were divided into two groups: the LLLT group (15 people) and the PMS group (15 people). The numeric rating scale, range of motion of the lumbar spine, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were evaluated before and after the 5th and 10th sessions. Treatment was provided five times per week for two weeks. Results were analyzed using the Friedman test, Mann-Whitney U test, and mixed ANOVA, with significance set at 0.05.
Results: Both groups showed significant reductions in pain scale and ODI after ten sessions. After the fifth treatment, the PMS group showed a significant reduction in aggravated pain. Additionally, both groups showed significant improvement in some directions. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups in any variables.
Conclusion: PMS and LLLT have comparable effects on pain reduction in patients with acute and subacute low back pain, using different mechanisms. Additionally, both therapies can enhance lumbar movement and daily living.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Cherkin DC, Deyo RA, Wheeler K, Ciol MA. Physician variation in diagnostic testing for low back pain. Who you see is what you get. Arthritis Rheum. 1994;37(1):15-22.
Yousefi‐Nooraie R, Schonstein E, Heidari K, Rashidian A, Pennick V, Akbari‐Kamrani M, et al. Low level laser therapy for nonspecific low-back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;2008(2):CD005107.
Bourne S, Machado AG, Nagel SJ. Basic anatomy and physiology of pain pathways. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2014;25(4):629-38.
Li W, Gong Y, Liu J, Guo Y, Tang H, Qin S, et al. Peripheral and central pathological mechanisms of chronic low back pain: a narrative review. J Pain Res. 2021;27:1483-94.
Giesecke T, Gracely RH, Grant MA, Nachemson A, Petzke F, Williams DA, Clauw DJ. Evidence of augmented central pain processing in idiopathic chronic low back pain. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50(2):613-23.
Jacobs JV, Henry SM, Nagle KJ. Low back pain associates with altered activity of the cerebral cortex prior to arm movements that require postural adjustment. Clin Neurophysiol. 2010;121(3):431-40.
Office of the permanent secretary ministry of public health, Office of policy and strategy. Public Health Statistics A.D 2015. Bangkok: samchareon phanich (Bangkok) CO., LTD. 2016.
Tirapakorn S. Number of patients receiving physical therapy services. In: Orthopedic physical therapy - Annual report 2017. Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute; 2017. p. 2-5.
Ay S, Doğan SK, Evcik D. Is low-level laser therapy effective in acute or chronic low back pain? Clin Rheumatol. 2010;29(8):905-10.
Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA, Denberg TD, Barry MJ, et al. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(7):514-30.
Konstantinovic LM, Cutovic MR, Milovanovic AN, Jovic SJ, Dragin AS, Letic MDj, et al. Low-level laser therapy for acute neck pain with radiculopathy: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study. Pain Med. 2010;11(8):1169-78.
Clijsen R, Brunner A, Barbero M, Clarys P, Taeymans J. Effects of low-level laser therapy on pain in patients with musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2017;53(4): 603-10.
Diao Y, Pan J, Xie Y, Liao M, Wu D, Liu H, et al. Effect of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation on patients with low back pain: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2023;104(9):1526-38.
Soriano FA, Rios R, Pedrola M, Giagnorio J, Battagliotti CR. Acute cervical pain is relieved with gallium arsenide (GaAs) laser radiation. A double-blind preliminary study. Laser Therapy. 1996;8(2):149-54.
Bjordal JM, Johnson MI, Iversen V, Aimbire F, Lopes-Martins RA. Low-level laser therapy in acute pain: a systematic review of possible mechanisms of action and clinical effects in randomized placebo-controlled trials. Photomed Laser Surg. 2006;24(2):158-68.
Massé-Alarie H, Beaulieu LD, Preuss R, Schneider C. Repetitive peripheral magnetic neurostimulation of multifidus muscles combined with motor training influences spine motor control and chronic low back pain. Clin Neurophysiol. 2017;128(3):442-53.
Massé-Alarie H, Flamand VH, Moffet H, Schneider C. Peripheral neurostimulation and specific motor training of deep abdominal muscles improve posturomotor control in chronic low back pain. Clin J Pain. 2013;29(9): 814-23.
Zarkovic D, Kazalakova K. Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation as pain management solution in musculoskeletal and neurological disorders—a pilot study. Int J Physiother. 2016;3(6):721-25.
Lim YH, Song JM, Choi EH, Lee JW. Effects of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation on patients with acute low back pain: a pilot study. Ann Rehabil Med. 2018;42(2):229-38.
Cheukul A. Nurses role in pain assessment. Nurs Sci J Thai. 2545; 20(3);8-18.
Beatty NR, Wyss JF. Lumbosacral Muscle Strain. In: Kahn SB, Xu RY, editors. Musculoskeletal sports and spine disorders: A Comprehensive Guide. Switz: Springer International; 2018. p. 395-403.
Anansirikasem P, Laojan W, Sarasalin W, Suk-in S, Laochot S, Dodniem S, et al. Effects of back pain relief innovations on lower back pain in working people group. The Academic and Nursing Journal of Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Chakriraj. 2022:2(1);66-78. (in Thai)
Childs JD, Piva SR, Fritz JM. Responsiveness of the numeric pain rating scale in patients with low back pain. Spine. 2005;30(11):1331-4.
Fritz JM, Irrgang JJ. A comparison of a modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale. Phys Ther. 2001;81(2):776-88.
Sakulsriprasert P, Vachalathiti R, Vongsirinavarat M, Kantasorn J. Cross-cultural adaptation of modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire to Thai and its reliability. J Med Assoc Thai. 2006;89(10): 1694-701.
Mousavi SJ, Parnianpour M, Mehdian H, Montazeri A, Mobini B. The Oswestry Disability Index, the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale: translation and validation studies of the Iranian versions. Spine. 2006; 31(14):454-9.
Norkin CC, White DJ. Measurement of joint motion a guide to goniometry third edition. Philadelphia: FA Davis Company, 2003.
Tomczak M, Tomczak E. The need to report effect size estimates revisited. An overview of some recommended measures of effect size. Trends Sport Sci. 2014;1(21):19-25.
Lakens D. Calculating and reporting effect sizes to facilitate cumulative science: a practical primer for t-tests and ANOVAs. Front Psychol. 2013;4(863):4.
Basford JR, Sheffield CG, Harmsen WS. Laser therapy: a randomized, controlled trial of the effects of low-intensity Nd: YAG laser irradiation on musculoskeletal back pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999;80(6):647-52.
Sakurai Y, Yamaguchi M, Abiko Y. Inhibitory effect of low-level laser irradiation on LPS-stimulated prostaglandin E2 production and cyclooxygenase-2 in human gingival fibroblasts. Eur J Oral Sci. 2000;108(1):29-34.
Farivar S, Malekshahabi T, Shiari R. Biological effects of low level laser therapy. J Lasers Med Sci. 2014 Spring;5(2):58-62.
Chow RT, Barnsley L. Systematic review of the literature of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the management of neck pain. Lasers Surg Med. 2005;37(1):46-52.
Carati CJ, Anderson SN, Gannon BJ, Piller NB. Treatment of postmastectomy lymphedema with low-level laser therapy: a double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer. 2003;98(6):1114-22.
Tsuchiya K, Kawatani M, Takeshige C, Sato T, Matsumoto I. Diode laser irradiation selectively diminishes slow component of axonal volleys to dorsal roots from the saphenous nerve in the rat. Neurosci Lett. 1993;161(1):65-8.
Arnér S, Lindblom U, Meyerson BA, Molander C. Prolonged relief of neuralgia after regional anesthetic blocks. A call for further experimental and systematic clinical studies. Pain. 1990;43(3):287-97.
Coderre TJ, Katz J, Vaccarino AL, Melzack R. Contribution of central neuroplasticity to pathological pain: review of clinical and experimental evidence. Pain 1993;52(3): 259-85.
Barker AT. An introduction to the basic principles of magnetic nerve stimulation. J Clin Neurophysiol. 1991;8(1):26-37.
Struppler A, Binkofski F, Angerer B, Bernhardt M, Spiegel S, Drzezga A, et al. A fronto-parietal network is mediating improvement of motor function related to repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation: A PET-H2O15 study. Neuroimage. 2007;36 Suppl 2:T174-86.
Massé-Alarie H, Schneider C. Revisiting the corticomotor plasticity in low back pain: challenges and perspectives. Healthcare. 2016;4(3):67.
Hodges PW, Moseley GL, Gabrielsson A, Gandevia SC. Experimental muscle pain changes feedforward postural responses of the trunk muscles. Exp Brain Res. 2003; 151(2):262-71.
Gur A, Karakoc M, Cevik R, Nas K, Sarac AJ, Karakoc M. Efficacy of low power laser therapy and exercise on pain and functions in chronic low back pain. Lasers Surg Med. 2003;32(3):233-8.
Kato MT, Kogawa EM, Santos CN, Conti PC. TENS and low-level laser therapy in the management of temporomandibular disorders. J Appl Oral Sci. 2006;14(2):130-5.
Simunovic Z. Low level laser therapy with trigger points technique: a clinical study on 243 patients. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 1996;14(4):163-7.
Carrasco TG, Guerisoli LD, Guerisoli DM, Mazzetto MO. Evaluation of low intensity laser therapy in myofascial pain syndrome. Cranio. 2009;27(4):243-7.
Struppler A, Angerer B, Gündisch C, Havel P. Modulatory effect of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation on skeletal muscle tone in healthy subjects: stabilization of the elbow joint. Exp Brain Res. 2004;157(1):59-66.
Smeets RJ, Hijdra HJ, Kester AD, Hitters MW, Knottnerus JA. The usability of six physical performance tasks in a rehabilitation population with chronic low back pain. Clin Rehabil. 2006;20(11):989-97.
