Effect of High-Intensity Laser Acupuncture on Muscle Performance, Pain, and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Abstract

To examine the effectiveness of high-intensity laser acupuncture (HILA) combined with physical therapy exercises on trunk muscular performance, pain, and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). A randomized, prospective, double-blind, controlled study was conducted at the outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. Sixty patients aged 20-40 years with CNSLBP were randomly allocated to each group. The HILA group received HILA treatment and physical therapy exercises, whereas the sham group received a placebo laser and the same physical therapy exercises. The therapy was administered for four weeks, three times a week. Trunk muscular performance, pain, and QoL were evaluated before and after the intervention and at the 1-month follow-up using isokinetic dynamometry, the visual analog scale, and the World Health Organization QoL (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. The differences between the baseline and post-intervention assessments were statistically significant for all variables in both groups, favoring the HILA group (all P < 0.05). A slight decrease was observed from post-intervention to follow-up in both groups, but the HILA group remained superior (P < 0.05), with follow-up Cohen's d effect sizes of 0.849 (peak torque for trunk extensors), 0.636 (peak torque for trunk flexors), 0.875 (average power for trunk extensors), 0.888 (average power for trunk flexors), 1.729 (pain), and 0.586 (WHOQOL-BREF). HILA therapy, combined with physical exercise therapy, may provide greater improvement in trunk muscular performance, pain, and QoL for patients with CNSLBP in the short term compared to physical exercise therapy alone. These findings suggest that HILA treatment may be a valid and safe adjunctive therapeutic option for patients with CNSLBP. Further research is necessary to assess the long-term effects and optimize treatment protocols.