Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39235616›Full record

Trial reportWiener klinische Wochenschrift2025

Effects of low-level laser therapy on symptomatic calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy : A prospective randomized controlled study.

Yasemin Tombak, Ozgur Zeliha Karaahmet, Aysegul Tombak, Eda Gurcay

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

4 authors.

Yasemin TombakPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Varlik Mah, Halil Sezai Erkut Cad No. 5, 06170, Yenimahalle, Ankara, Turkey. yasemintombak@hotmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0065-5376
Ozgur Zeliha KaraahmetPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1338-8935
Aysegul TombakPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Meram State Hospital, Konya, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5203-5518
Eda GurcayPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Health Sciences, Gaziler Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0118-6527

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveRotator cuff calcific tendinitis (RCCT) is a benign but incapacitating condition and in some patients it is the cause of chronic debilitating pain and functional disability. We aimed to reveal the short-term effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on clinical and sonographic parameters in patients with symptomatic RCCT.

methodThis prospective randomized controlled study analyzed 76 painful shoulders of 68 patients aged 18-75 years, with over 3 months of shoulder pain and where RCCT was confirmed sonographically. Patients in the LLLT group (received 5 LLLT sessions per week and home exercises for 5 days/week for 3 weeks) and the control group (received home exercises, 5 days/week for 3 weeks) were assessed clinically and sonographically just before and after treatment, recording pain intensity, range of motion (ROM), shoulder functional status, location (supraspinatus/infraspinatus, subscapularis), number and degree of calcification. Degree of calcification was determined with ultrasound and classified by the Bianchi-Martinoli classification. The LLLT was applied to the calcified areas marked under ultrasound guidance.

resultsBoth groups showed statistically significant improvements in ROM, pain intensity, shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) pain/disability/total, and degree of calcification after treatment. No significant change was achieved for calcification in the control group. Considering the change values, improvements in abduction, extension, pain intensity, SPADI pain/disability/total, calcification number, and calcification degree parameters were found to be statistically significantly better in the LLLT group than in the control group.

conclusionAdding LLLT to the home program in treatment of symptomatic RCCT outperformed the home program alone, reducing the number and severity of calcifications, improving pain and disability.

Indexed as

CalcinosisLow-Level Light TherapyRotator Cuff InjuriesShoulder PainTendinopathyAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementProspective StudiesRotator CuffTreatment OutcomeBianchi MartinoliExerciseLLLTShoulder painUltrasound

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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.