High-Intensity Laser Therapy for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain: An Investigation of Efficacy

Authors : Emine Bilir, Onur Kara, Sevgi Gümüş Atalay, Özge Tezen, Öznur Uzun, İrem Karaköseoğlu
Pages : 262-272
Doi:10.52827/hititmedj.1593963
View : 42 | Download : 45
Publication Date : 2025-06-23
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Objective: Hemiplegic shoulder pain is one of the most common complications after stroke. High-intensity laser therapy is a new treatment option between conventional treatment strategies. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of conventional physical therapy agents and high-intensive laser therapy in this study. Material and Method: Randomized, case-control trial. Participants (n=43) were randomized into two groups. Group 1: high-intensive laser therapy (n=22), and group 2: conventional physical therapy (n=21), and additionally, therapeutic exercise programs were applied both groups. Patients were assessed before treatment and after treatment for clinical parameters with a visual analog scale, an arm motor ability test, functional independence measure scores, and modified ranking scores. Patients underwent sonographic diagnostic evaluation. Results: Sociodemographic characteristics and clinical data and ultrasonographic findings were similar between groups (p>0.05). In both groups, within-group comparisons showed a significant decrease in activity and nocturnal pain scores and a significant increase in arm motor ability test function and movement scores and functional independence measure scores (p<0.05). Compared to the conventional physical therapy group, the HILT group showed a significantly greater improvement in the VAS night score (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study results indicate that both treatment interventions were efficacious in the management of hemiplegic shoulder pain. Therefore, high-intensity laser therapy presents as a potential alternative therapeutic modality for hemiplegic shoulder pain, demonstrating a comparable level of effectiveness.
Keywords : Ağrı, hemiplejik omuz ağrısı, inme, konvansiyonel fizik tedavi, lazer tedavisi

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