Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30174418›Full record

Trial reportClinical interventions in aging2018

Photobiomodulation using high- or low-level laser irradiations in patients with lumbar disc degenerative changes: disappointing outcomes and remarks.

Jakub Taradaj, Katarzyna Rajfur, Barbara Shay, Joanna Rajfur, Kuba Ptaszkowski, Karolina Walewicz, Robert Dymarek, Mirosław Sopel, Joanna Rosińczuk

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Clinical interventions in aging, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06151704 (The Effect of High-power Laser Therapy on Pain, Functional Disability, Range of Motion and Pressure Pain Threshold in Subjects With Radicular Low Back Pain Due to Intervertebral Disc Herniation), which is not on this map. Cited by 17 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 10% 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.

NCT06151704 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of High-power Laser Therapy on Pain, Functional Disability, Range of Motion and Pressure Pain Threshold in Subjects With Radicular Low Back Pain Due to Intervertebral Disc Herniation: A Double-blind Randomised Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorIran University of Medical SciencesRan2022 to 2024Enrolled36ConditionsRadiculopathy, Lumbosacral Region, Radiculopathy LumbarArmsHigh intensity laser therapy, Motor control exercise
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
  5. Trial
  6. Trial
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Article
  17. Review
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

9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Jakub TaradajDepartment of Physiotherapy Basics, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
Katarzyna RajfurPublic Higher Medical Professional School, Opole, Poland.
Barbara ShayCollege of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Joanna RajfurPublic Higher Medical Professional School, Opole, Poland.
Kuba PtaszkowskiDepartment of Clinical Biomechanics and Physiotherapy in Motor System Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
Karolina WalewiczPublic Higher Medical Professional School, Opole, Poland.
Robert DymarekDepartment of Nervous System Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland, r.dymarek@gmail.com.
Mirosław SopelDepartment of Nervous System Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland, r.dymarek@gmail.com.
Joanna RosińczukDepartment of Nervous System Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland, r.dymarek@gmail.com.
Wroclaw Medical University · PLPublic Higher Medical Professional School in Opole · PLUniversity of Manitoba · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLaser therapy seems to be a beneficial physical agent for chronic low back pain (LBP), and it is commonly used in the clinical rehabilitation practice. However, there are still no indisputable and clearly defined protocols and practical guidelines, and further, the methodology of the previous reports leaves many unsatisfied and raises some reservations.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) in patients with lumbar disc degenerative changes based on the analysis of the short- and long-term results and in comparison with the placebo effect.

designThis study was a prospective and placebo-controlled clinical trial. MATERIALS AND

methodsA group of 68 participants were qualified for the therapy and were assigned to four comparative groups in the order they volunteered: HILT of 1,064 nm, 60 J/cm

resultsAfter applying verum or placebo laser irradiation, therapeutic progress was observed in all comparative groups; however, no statistically significant differences were observed among the procedures.

conclusionThe high- and low-energy laser therapy methods used in the present article are ineffective in relation to patients with lumbar disc degenerative changes in both the short- and long-term perspectives and do not show a significant advantage over the placebo effect.

Indexed as

AdultFemaleHumansLaser TherapyLow Back PainLow-Level Light TherapyLumbar VertebraeMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementProspective StudiesTreatment Outcomelaser therapylow back painlumbar disc degenerative changesphotobiomodulation therapy

Identifiers

PMID30174418
PMCPMC6109659
OpenAlexW2888053940

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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.