Low energy laser in the treatment of low back pain

Name S. Nikolic, Z. Trojacanec, I.J. Milankovic
Address Institute of ME Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Skopje, F.Y.R.O.M

Low back pain is felt in the low lumbar, lumbosacral, or sacroiliac region. Most low back pain is related to acute ligamentous (sprain) or muscular (strain) problems, which tend to be self limited, or to the more chronic osteoarthritis or ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar area.

The aim of the study was to explore the pain-alleviating effect of low energy laser in low back pain .Thirty-five patients with low back pain have been treated with helium-neon laser type "Bistra" with wavelength 630 nm, average output 15 mW and an irradiance of 250 mW/cm2. The laser was locally applied to 11 sites on and around the low back. After scanning each point was treated for 30 sec, five times weekly for a total of ten treatments. The statistical analysis showed that the laser treated patients had a significant faster pain-alleviating effect compared with the 30 patients treated with medicaments only. Subjective response have been achieved after first three treatments. Irradia laser treatment may be a valuable therapy in low back pain and low energy laser can be employed as a pain relieving method.