Effectiveness of Low-intensity Laser on Pain in Patients With Supraspinatus Tendinopathy.

Effectiveness of Low-intensity Laser on Pain in Patients With Supraspinatus Tendinopathy. A Triple-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Tendinopathy is an inflammatory process that occurs in and around the tendon when both are affected by a certain injury. In the case of the supraspinatus muscle it is one of the most frequent causes of shoulder pain. To test the efficacy of laser treatment in reducing shoulder pain caused by supraspinatus muscle tendinopathy. A randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) was carried out in which a physiotherapy intervention was performed using therapeutic laser for three months, to observe the influence on the pain generated by supraspinatus muscle tendinopathy in the shoulder.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Score of 3 or higher on the VAS scale for the shoulder.
• Adequate cognitive ability for comprehension.
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy confirmed by ultrasound at the study center, either due to tendon inflammation, presence of hypoechoic areas, calcification, fibrillar disorganization, and/or neovascularization in the supraspinatus muscle.
• Pain in the proximal lateral part of the arm that worsens with abduction.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindications specific to laser treatment (e.g., tumors, presence of pacemaker or defibrillator, pregnancy, etc.).
• History of glenohumeral fracture and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Rheumatic, neurological, or structural polymyalgia affecting the joint.
• Previous surgeries.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Cardiac dysfunction.
• Infiltrative and/or rehabilitative treatment in the two months prior to recruitment.
• Pre-existing conditions associated with pain in the upper extremities. Difficulties with follow-up.
• Depression.
• Treatment with another intervention; during the study, they will not be able to undergo it.