This study evaluates the effect of low level laser light therapy on reducing low back pain. Half of the participants will receive the actual treatment with the active laser and the other half of the participants will receive a placebo treatment with an inactive laser.
Back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder affecting 80% of people at some point in their lives. It is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States, second only to headache, and it is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Around $50 billion is spent in the U.S. each year to treat low back pain. Men and women are equally affected, with the most common age affected being between 30 and 50 years. Most low back pain stems from benign musculoskeletal problems, referred to as non-specific low back pain, which is the etiology being evaluated in this study. It is caused by lumbar sprain or strain a stretch injury to the ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles of the low back. Current mainstream treatment approaches for low back pain due to lumbar sprain strain focus on reducing pain and inflammation, including rest; oral and topical over-the-counter and prescription medications; local heat applications; massage and exercise. Alternative treatment options include acupuncture; chiropractic manipulation; biofeedback; traction; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS); and ultrasound. Surgical procedures are also a treatment option for low back pain, and although the outcomes are often poor and do not last, back surgery remains the 3rd most common form of surgery in the United States, with about 300,000 back surgeries performed annually. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) communicates information to the receptors on the membrane of the cell and mitochondrion (the enzymatic engine of the cell). This energetic information reaches the cell's DNA, which directly controls cell function. When the cells receive better information, they work better, as do the tissues they comprise, like bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, etc. In this way, LLLT promotes the healing and regeneration of damaged tissues, having both local effects on tissue function and also systemic effects carried throughout the body by the blood and acupuncture meridians. The key basic physiological effects of low level laser light include increased cell membrane polarization and permeability; Adenosine-5-triphosphate (ATP) production and respiratory chain activity; enzyme activity; collagen and epithelial production; capillary formation; macrophage (immune) activity; analgesic effects due to elevated endorphin production, electrolytic nerve blockage, and improved blood and lymph flow; anti-inflammatory effect due to improved circulation and accelerated tissue regeneration; and increased production of antioxidants. Of additional benefit is that light energy from low level lasers will only be absorbed by cells and tissues that are not functioning normally and has no effect on healthy cells. Therefore, low level laser therapy has the potential benefit of providing an effective means of reducing low back pain that is simple, quick, non-invasive and side-effect free.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
58
The Erchonia FX-635 is applied to the lower back and hips area for 20 minutes per treatment administration, 8 times across 4 weeks, 2 times per week.
The Placebo Laser is applied to the lower back and hips area for 20 minutes per treatment administration, 8 times across 4 weeks, 2 times per week.
South Mountain Chiropractic Center
Chandler, Arizona, United States
Quarneri Chiropractic Inc.
San Mateo, California, United States
Bloomfield Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center
Bloomfield, Michigan, United States
Percentage of Participants Whose Change in Pain Rating on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Met the Individual Subject Success Criteria
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) assesses level or degree of pain. It is a horizontal line anchored on the left by the label '0: no pain at all' and on the right by the label '100: worst pain imaginable'. The subject marks a location on the 0-100 line that appears to represent any level of pain he or she is experiencing at that time. This marking is measured with a 0 to 100 mm ruler and the number recorded. For the primary study outcome, the percent change in the VAS pain score recorded at baseline and endpoint is calculated for each subject. Individual subject success is a 30% or greater change in VAS pain scores. A negative (-) percent change indicates a decrease in pain level and is positive for individual subject success. A positive (+) percent change indicates an increase in pain level and is negative for individual subject success. Overall study success is defined as a 35% or greater difference between the proportion of individual successes in each treatment group.
Time frame: Baseline and Two Months Post-Procedure
Change in Total Score on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a 10-item questionnaire to quantify disability for acute or chronic low back pain. Each question is scored on a scale of 0 (least amount of disability) to 5 (most severe disability). The ODI is expressed as a percentage and calculated by dividing the summed score of all questions answered by the total possible score (that is dependent on how many questions are answered) and multiplying by 100. A total score of '0%' means no disability and a total score of '100%' means the maximum disability possible. Therefore, the higher the total score, the worse the disability, and the lesser the total score, the lesser the disability.
Time frame: Baseline and Two Months Post-Procedure
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