Pilot Study on the Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy Treatment for Acute and Persistent Discomfort

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Chronic Pain; Acute Pain
• Interventions: Device: Low-Level Laser Therapy

• Registration Number: NCT04774783
• Lead Sponsor: Arkansas Colleges of Health Education

Brief Summary

This study will examine the effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for the management of pain in various locations of the body. All subjects selected for participation in the study will be assigned to a LLLT treatment group for a duration of 12 sessions.

Detailed Description

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment modality that is gaining popularity in the field of physical therapy for its proposed mediation of pain. LLLT is typically used in conjunction with other more conventional physical therapy treatment sessions; therefore, it is not clear if the benefits are from the LLLT or the conventional treatment, or the combination of them both. The research question: Does low-level laser therapy treatment with a class 3B Laser decrease pain and improve function in persons with persistent or acute joint/muscle discomfort as compared to before treatment?

Study participants presenting with pain will be interviewed regarding the location and intensity of their primary pain complaints. Participants will also be asked to identify functional limitations associated with their pain. Participants will undergo an initial screening process to identify the presence of any exclusion factors and precautions associated with the delivery of LLLT. Investigators will collect pre-test and post-test information from participants regarding pain intensity and perceived functional limitations. Investigators will also collect relevant joint range of motion and muscle strength data during the first and last sessions. Treatment location for the study will vary within the participant group and will be determined during the initial screening process. The intervention will include LLLT treatment using a combination of LED and laser light delivered by the Richmar TheraTouch LX2 device.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2021-02
• Study First Submitted: 2021-02-20
• Study Start: 2021-02-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-02-24
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-02-24
• Study First Posted: 2021-03-01
• Last Update Posted: 2021-03-01
• Primary Completion: 2021-03-26
• Study Completion: 2021-03-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• subjects having persistent or acute discomfort/pain in a muscle or joint of their body
• ability to speak English or provide own translator
• ability to complete the pre-test/post-test session
• ability to attend three times per week

Exclusion Criteria

• pregnant women
• currently undergoing immunosuppression therapy
• subjects with photosensitivity concerns

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Low-Level Laser Therapy	Low-Level Laser Therapy	Over the course of the study, participants within this group will receive 12 sessions of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) treatment over a duration of 4 weeks using the Richmar TheraTouch LX2 device. Treatment location will be determined through assessment of each qualifying participant. Treatment sessions will be limited to a single area of the body associated with the qualifying participant's primary pain complaint.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)	Visit 12, Week 4 of 4	The NPRS is an eleven point scale (0-10) where the subject is asked to provide a rating of their pain current, best and worst pain intensity over the past 24 hours. Subjects are asked to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 being "No Pain" and 10 being "Worst Pain Imaginable". Data will be collected post-treatment during Visit 12.
Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS)	Visit 12, Week 4 of 4	The PSFS is a device used to quantify the extent of a subject's perceived functional limitations due to a particular problem or condition. The subject is asked to identify up to three activities in which they feel their performance is limited. For each of the activities identified, the subject will rate their perceived level of limitation using an eleven point scale (0-10) with 0 being "Unable to perform activity" and 10 being "Able to perform activity at the same level as before injury or problem". Data will be collected post-treatment during Visit 12.
Joint Range of Motion	Visit 12, Week 4 of 4	Relevant range of motion data will be collected from each qualifying subject post-treatment during Visit 12.
Muscle Strength	Visit 12, Week 4 of 4	Relevant muscle strength data will be collected from each qualifying subject via manual muscle test or dynamometer post-treatment during Visit 12.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Arkansas Colleges of Health Education; 🇺🇸 Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States