Photobiomodulation therapy is not better than placebo in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomised placebo-controlled trial

Author(s)

Guimaraes, Layana de Souza ^[1] ; Menezes Costa, Luciola da Cunha ^[1] ; Araujo, Amanda Costa ^[1] ; Nascimento, Dafne Port ^[1] ; Medeiros, Flavia Cordeiro ^[1] ; Avanzi, Marina Athayde ^[1] ; Pinto Leal-Junior, Ernesto Cesar ^{[2, 3]} ; Pena Costa, Leonardo Oliveira ^[1] ; Tomazoni, Shaiane Silva ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Cidade Sao Paulo UNICID, Masters & Doctoral Programs Phys Therapy, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Nove Julho UNINOVE, Postgrad Program Rehabil Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Nove Julho UNINOVE, Lab Phototherapy & Innovat Technol Hlth LaPIT, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Pain; v. 162, n. 6, p. 1612-1620, JUN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been used in several musculoskeletal disorders to reduce pain, inflammation, and promoting tissue regeneration. The current evidence about the effects of PBMT on low back pain (LBP) is still conflicting. We aimed to evaluate the effects of PBMT against placebo on pain intensity and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP. This was a prospectively registered, randomised placebo-controlled trial, with blinded patients, therapists, and assessors. The study was conducted on an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Brazil, between April 2017 and May 2019. A total of 148 patients with chronic nonspecific LBP were randomised to either active PBMT (n = 74) or placebo (n = 74). Patients from both groups received 12 treatment sessions, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Patients from both groups also received an educational booklet based on ``The Back Book.{''} Clinical outcomes were measured at baseline and at follow-up appointments at 4 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months after randomisation. The primary outcomes were pain intensity and disability measured at 4 weeks. We estimated the treatment effects using linear mixed models following the principles of intention-to-treat. There was no clinical important between-group differences in terms of pain intensity (mean difference = 0.01 point; 95% confidence interval = -0.94 to 0.96) and disability (mean difference = -0.63 points; 95% confidence interval = -2.23 to 0.97) at 4 weeks. Patients did not report any adverse events. Photobiomodulation therapy was not better than placebo to reduce pain and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/10265-0 - Effects of photobiomodulation therapy on chronic non-specific low back pain: placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial
• Grantee: Shaiane da Silva Tomazoni
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral