Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28571697›Full record

SynthesisBrazilian journal of physical therapy

Effects of monochromatic infrared phototherapy in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Caroline Cabral Robinson, Patrícia Da Silva Klahr, Cinara Stein, Maicon Falavigna, Graciele Sbruzzi, Rodrigo Della Méa Plentz

Open access · bronzeAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Brazilian journal of physical therapy. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Caroline Cabral RobinsonPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: carollinerobinson@gmail.com.
Patrícia Da Silva KlahrPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Reabilitação, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Cinara SteinPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Maicon FalavignaHospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Instituto de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Graciele SbruzziCurso de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Rodrigo Della Méa PlentzPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Reabilitação, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre · BRInstituto de Saúde · BRUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul · BR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMonochromatic infrared energy (MIRE) or phototherapy has been used to improve plantar sensitivity and pain in lower limbs of patients with diabetic sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy (DSPN), but the available primary results are inconsistent.

objectiveTo review systematically the effects of MIRE on plantar sensitivity and neuropathic pain in patients with DSPN.

methodsMedline, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar were searched up to September 2016. Randomized controlled trials addressing the effects of MIRE on plantar sensitivity and neuropathic pain in patients with DSPN were selected. Study inclusion, risk of bias and quality assessment, and data extraction were completed by two independent reviewers.

resultsOf 2549 records identified, six studies met the selection criteria, with 304 patients (594 feet) randomized. MIRE was not associated with improvement in plantar tactile sensitivity (SMD=0.22, 95%CI -0.07 to 0.51, low quality of evidence). Subgroups of studies with short-term (up to 2 weeks) follow-up showed significant improvement in plantar sensitivity (SMD=0.41, 95% CI 0.18-0.64). Neuropathic pain increased significantly in patients who received MIRE (MD=0.49, 95% CI 0.30-0.68, low quality of evidence).

conclusionsThere was limited evidence that MIRE results in short-term improvement of tactile sensitivity probably not sustained over time. Limited evidence also suggested that MIRE does not provide relief for neuropathic pain. As quality of evidence is low, further studies are likely to change the estimated effect.

Indexed as

PhototherapyDiabetic NeuropathiesHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicDiabetesFootPainPhysical therapyTactile sensitivity

Identifiers

PMID28571697
PMCPMC5537484
OpenAlexW2616659570

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.