High Intensity Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain

The Effectiveness of High Intensity Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

High intensity laser therapy (HILT) has been considered as a treatment option for shoulder pain. To our knowledge, the effectiveness of HILT in patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) with partial thickness rotator cuff tear (PTRCT) is unknown. In this study, we intended to investigate the effectiveness of HILT on pain, disability, function and quality of life in patients with HSP accompanied by PTRCT.

The study was designed as prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Patients with HSP accompanied by PTRCT (n=44) were randomly assigned to HILT and control groups. Group 1 (HILT group, n=22) received 3 sessions of HILT per week for 3 weeks in addition to the exercise program which performed 5 sessions per week for 3 weeks. Group 2 (Control group, n=22) received an exercise program for HSP of 5 sessions per week for 3 weeks.

Participants were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS), passive Range of Motion (ROM), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and ultrasonographic PTRCT size.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with HSP (at least 4/10 points from VAS) aged 18-75 years with hemiplegia duration> 6 months, suffered a stroke resulting in unilateral hemiplegia for the first time, and who had partial thickness RCT after ultrasonographic evaluation due to shoulder pain

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cases who had inflammatory rheumatic disease, cervical radiculopathy, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, coronary heart disease, cardiac pace-maker, neurological disease, shoulder surgery, and shoulder injection in the last 3 months