Effects of High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) in Patients With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

Effects of High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) in Patients With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). This study aims to compare the effects of HILT alone and HILT and therapeutic exercise combination on shoulder pain, ROM, joint position sense (JPS), muscle strength and function.The investigators hypothesized that shoulder pain, ROM, JPS, muscle strength and functionality would improve with both treatments but that HILT combined with exercise would result in better outcomes than HILT alone.

30 patients with SIS will be randomized into two groups. Pain intensity will be assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS), pain-free and normal range of motion (ROM) with goniometer, joint position sense (JPS) with inclinometer, muscle strenght with hand-held dynamometer, and shoulder functionality with Constant Murley Score (CMS) and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) in a pretest-posttest design. HILT Group (n=15) will receive only HILT for 10 sessions, 3 days a week on alternate days. HILT& Exercise Group (n=15) will receive exercise treatment in addition to HILT for the same duration of time.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed as SIS (≥3 positive of 5 impingement tests: Neer's sign, Hawkins and Kennedy, Empty Can, painful arc of abduction and external rotation resistance tests)
• No history of shoulder injury and/or shoulder symptoms requiring treatment other than SIS for the last 1 year
• Shoulder pain less than 7/10 of Visual Analogue Scale
• Being able to elevate the shoulder over 140 degrees

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of upper extremity fracture, shoulder surgery
• Frozen shoulder
• Full-thickness rotator cuff (RC) tear
• Shoulder instability, systemic musculoskeletal disease
• Shoulder pain with cervical spine motion,
• Having any of the contraindications of HILT.