ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In addition, the study aimed to address the gap in the literature on combined treatments by assessing the additional healing effect of LLLT when combined with physiotherapy interventions.
Methods: The study included 30 patients (25 females, 5 males) diagnosed with CTS in clinical examinations and electroneuromyographic (ENMG) evaluations. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups were treated with a standard 10-session physiotherapy program consisting of paraffin treatment, TENS, therapeutic ultrasound, and median nerve stretching and tendon gliding exercises supervised by the same physiotherapist. The LLLT group (n=15 hands) received LLLT treatment and the sham LLLT group (n=15 hands) received sham LLLT treatment. Outcomes were measured using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), grip strength, pinch strength, and median nerve conduction studies. Hand grip was measured using a Jamar dynamometer and pinch grip was measured using a pinchmeter. Tests were performed immediately after treatment by the same physiatrist blinded to groups.
Findings: There were no statistically significant differences between the LLLT and sham LLLT groups in terms of age, gender, duration of symptoms, pre-intervention BCTQ, grip strength, or ENMG. In the LLLT group BCTQ, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and pinch strength improved after treatment (p<0.05). While the sham LLLT group the Symptom Severity Scale subgroup of the BCTQ and median nerve sensory distal latency improved after treatment (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-intervention readings of the other parameters of the two groups (p>0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in the post-treatment outcomes, with the exception of palm–wrist median sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude which showed greater improvement in the sham LLLT group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: LLLT improves functional status, symptoms, and pinch strength in patients with CTS. However, LLLT yielded no additional efficacy when added to physiotherapy treatment of patients with CTS. ENMG parameters were not improved following LLLT treatment.
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