The effect of 300 mW, 830 nm laser on chronic neck pain: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Roberta T. Chow, Gillian Z. Heller and Les Barnsley

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of low-level laser therapy in 90 subjects with chronic neck pain was conducted with the aim of determining the efficacy of 300 mW, 830 nm laser in the management of chronic neck pain. Subjects were randomized to receive a course of 14 treatments over 7 weeks with either active or sham laser to tender areas in the neck. The primary outcome measure was a Visual Analogue Scale for pain and secondary outcome measures included a number of questionnaires.  The results showed improvements in all outcome measures and the authors conclude that low-level laser therapy, at the parameters used in this study, was efficacious in providing pain relief for patients with chronic neck pain over a period of 3 months.

Pain, Volume 124, Issues 1-2, September 2006, Pages 201-210

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