Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42528905›Full record

Trial reportFrontiers in medicine2026

High-intensity versus low-intensity laser acupuncture in chronic, non-specific low back pain: a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Doaa Ayoub Elimy, Neama Hamed Neamat Allah, Nosiba Abdelnasser Gabarty Abdelwahed, Aliaa Mohamed Elabd, Nesma M Allam, Engy BadrEldin S Moustafa, Hailah M Almohaimeed, Mustafa Shukry, Mohammed A Gebba, Mohamed El-Sherbiny and 3 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06280846 (High-intensity Versus Low-intensity Laser Acupuncture in Chronic, Non-specific Low Back Pain), which is not on this 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.

NCT06280846 nacompletednot on this map

High-intensity Versus Low-intensity Laser Acupuncture in Chronic, Non-specific Low Back Pain: a Double-blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorCairo UniversityRan2024 to 2024Enrolled60ConditionsChronic Nonspecific Low-back PainArmshigh-intensity laser acupuncture and Exercise therapy program, low-intensity laser acupuncture and Exercise therapy program, Sham laser acupuncture
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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

13 authors.

Doaa Ayoub ElimyDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
Neama Hamed Neamat AllahDepartment of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Nosiba Abdelnasser Gabarty AbdelwahedDepartment of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Aliaa Mohamed ElabdDepartment of Physical Therapy for Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
Nesma M AllamDepartment of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Engy BadrEldin S MoustafaDepartment of Physical Therapy for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Hailah M AlmohaimeedDepartment of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mustafa ShukryDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed A GebbaDepartment of Oral Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan.
Mohamed El-SherbinyDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah Obaid AlanaziThe National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed M Abdelfattah AbdelrahmanDepartment of Anesthesia, Surgical Intensive Care and Pain Management, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Aida Amir NassifDepartment of Physical Therapy for Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a musculoskeletal condition characterized by persistent discomfort, weak trunk muscles, exhaustion, and disability. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of high-intensity laser acupuncture (HILA) and low-intensity laser acupuncture (LILA), combined with exercise, on strength of trunk extensors, fatigue, level of pain, range of motion (ROM) of lumbar flexion, and disability in patients with CNSLBP. Materials and methods: 60 participants with CNSLBP were divided into three groups in this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial: the high-intensity laser (HILA) group, who received HILA over 15 acupuncture points along with exercises; the low-intensity laser (LILA) group, who received LILA over the same points plus exercises; and the sham group, who received sham laser in addition to exercises. The interventions were received three times/week for four consecutive weeks. The strength of trunk extensors, fatigue, pain, lumbar flexion ROM, and disability were measured at baseline, after 4 weeks, and at a 1-month follow-up. The assessment tools used included isokinetic dynamometry, the visual analogue scale (VAS), the modified Schober test (MST), and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results: Initial analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the three groups ( Conclusion: Patients with CNSLBP may have a short-term benefit from HILA and LILA combined with exercise rather than from exercise alone in terms of trunk extensor strength and fatigue, pain, lumbar flexion ROM, and disability. However, both laser treatments showed comparable effects on fatigue and disability; HILA appears to be more effective than LILA in improving trunk extensor strength and relieving pain. To define the ideal treatment parameters and to evaluate long-term effects, further research is required. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier [NCT06280846].

Indexed as

exercise therapylaser acupuncturelow back painmuscle fatiguemuscle strength

Identifiers

PMID42528905
PMCPMC13416075

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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.