The world renowned Medical Journal, The Lancet, recently published a brief article on the efficacy of one of our treatment modalities here at the South Coast Spine Center. This "high tech" treatment has been proven extremely safe and highly effective over the last 20 years for pain relief and tissue healing, and yet it has still not been completely embraced by the health insurance industry or the majority of physical medicine physicians and providers. I suppose that's good news for our office, and more importantly, our patients, since we've been using it quite extensively . . . every day for the past 4 years.
So, in my continued effort to spread the "good news" about developments in physical medicine, I'm re-printing the article below, and giving my blog readers a link to The Lancet so that they can see it, print it, tell their doctors and friends about it, and hopefully someone will not have to suffer from that old "pain in the neck" any more . . . literally!
Here's the Article below, and here's the link (click here):
Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo or active-treatment controlled trials
Original Text
The Lancet, Volume 374, Issue 9705, Pages 1897 - 1908, 5 December 2009
Summary
Background
Neck pain is a common and costly condition for which pharmacological management has limited evidence of efficacy and side-effects. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a relatively uncommon, non-invasive treatment for neck pain, in which non-thermal laser irradiation is applied to sites of pain. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials to assess the efficacy of LLLT in neck pain.
Methods
We searched computerised databases comparing efficacy of LLLT using any wavelength with placebo or with active control in acute or chronic neck pain. Effect size for the primary outcome, pain intensity, was defined as a pooled estimate of mean difference in change in mm on 100 mm visual analogue scale.
Findings
We identified 16 randomised controlled trials including a total of 820 patients. In acute neck pain, results of two trials showed a relative risk (RR) of 1·69 (95% CI 1·22—2·33) for pain improvement of LLLT versus placebo. Five trials of chronic neck pain reporting categorical data showed an RR for pain improvement of 4·05 (2·74—5·98) of LLLT. Patients in 11 trials reporting changes in visual analogue scale had pain intensity reduced by 19·86 mm (10·04—29·68). Seven trials provided follow-up data for 1—22 weeks after completion of treatment, with short-term pain relief persisting in the medium term with a reduction of 22·07 mm (17·42—26·72). Side-effects from LLLT were mild and not different from those of placebo.
Interpretation
We show that LLLT reduces pain immediately after treatment in acute neck pain and up to 22 weeks after completion of treatment in patients with chronic neck pain.
Funding
None.
So, . . . "There you have it!" . . . as they say. Not only is this Great News for Neck Pain Sufferers, (and our patients) but I love that fact that this research study had "0" funding from any laser manufacturer or any other biased party. I also like the fact that this study was quite comprehensive in scope, with 16 independent studies and 820 patients involved. Unbiased, comprehensive, and to the point, . . . they sum it up with: "We show that LLLT reduces pain immediately after treatment in acute neck pain and up to 22 weeks after completion of treatment in patients with chronic neck pain." I guess "Cold Laser" therapy really works! Would someone please tell the health insurance industry and the AMA?
All kidding aside, Nonsurgical "Cold" Laser Therapy is one of the many advanced healing methods utilized at the South Coast Spine Center here in San Diego. For a comprehensive list of our services, you can log onto our website at: www.SouthCoastSpine.com and click on the Services Tab and while you're there, feel free to request our informative report on healing of chronic and severe lower back and neck pain (or just click here). You can always call us directly as well at: 619-472-2225. We're ready to help you "let the healing begin!"
Walking "In the Light" . . . of healing and pain free living,
Dr. Bruce Bell, DC, QME, Qualified Medical Evaluator, American Academy of Spine Physicians, Director of the South Coast Spine Center
619-472-2225, www.SouthCoastSpine.com
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