Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38990213›Full record

SynthesisLasers in medical science2024

High-intensity versus low-level laser in musculoskeletal disorders.

Marwa Shafiek Saleh, Mostafa Shahien, Hossam Mortada, Abdelrahman Elaraby, Yara Samir Hammad, Maged Hamed, Shorouk Elshennawy

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Lasers in medical science, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the 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
–field-weighted citation impact
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

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

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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

7 authors.

Marwa Shafiek SalehBasic Science Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Mostafa ShahienFaculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Hossam MortadaBiomechanics Unit, Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Galala University, Suez, Egypt.
Abdelrahman ElarabyFaculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Yara Samir HammadFaculty of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt.
Maged HamedDepartment of Physical Therapy, Sharm El Shiekh International Hospital, South Sinai, Egypt.
Shorouk ElshennawyDepartment of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. shoroukelshennawy@cu.edu.eg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8007-8059

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate the current evidence comparing low level to high level laser therapy to reveal any superiorities in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

methodsFive databases were searched till September 2022 to obtain relevant RCTs comparing high intensity and low-level laser therapies in the management of musculoskeletal disorders. Two authors assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale and meta-analysis was conducted for studies that showed homogeneity.

resultsTwelve articles were included in this systematic review with a total population of 704 participants across various musculoskeletal pathologies including tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic non-specific low back pain, knee arthritis, plantar fasciitis, and subacromial impingement. There were no statistical differences between the two interventions in pain, electrophysiological parameters, level of disability, quality of life, postural sway or pressure algometer, however, Low level laser therapy showed superiority in increasing grip strength compared to high intensity laser therapy while results were significant in favour of high intensity laser therapy regarding long head of biceps diameter and cross sectional area, supraspinatus thickness and echogenicity and acromio-humeral distance.

conclusionThe current literature suggests no superiority of both types of laser therapy in musculoskeletal disorders, however, more RCTs with larger sample size are required to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the superiority of either form of laser therapy in musculoskeletal disorders.

Indexed as

Low-Level Light TherapyMusculoskeletal DiseasesCarpal Tunnel SyndromeHumansLaser TherapyQuality of LifeTennis ElbowTreatment OutcomeArthritisBack painCarpal tunnel syndromeHigh intensityHILTImpingementLaserLLLTLow-levelMusculoskeletal

Identifiers

PMID38990213
PMCPMC11239763

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.