Efficacy of low level laser treatment in plantar calcaneal enthesophytosis

Tikiz C.; Ünlü Z.; Ay K.; Tüzün Ç.

Efficacy of low level laser treatment in plantar calcaneal enthesophytosis

Date

2006

Authors

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of low-intensity laser therapy in the treatment of plantar calcaneal enthesophytosis (PCE). Forty patients suffering from pain at least for more than one month with the diagnosis of PCE were included in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups as; active laser group (ALG, n=20, mean age 49±10 years) and placebo laser group (PLG, n=20, mean age 54±5 years). Gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlAs) infrared diode device (30mW, 830 nm) was used for low-level laser treatment (LLLT). Patients were treated five times weekly for 3 weeks. Baseline evaluation consisted of the severity of resting pain, morning pain, pain after activity, pain on palpation, and the effect of pain on daily activities and walking ability. Assessments were done before treatment, at the end of treatment and at 1-month follow-up. Baseline patient characteristics were similar in both groups. In intra-group comparisons, significant improvements were detected in all outcome measurements at both post-treatment and one-month follow-up period in ALG (p<0.05), however no significant difference was observed in PLG concerning the same time intervals. Inter-group comparisons also revealed significant difference in favor of ALG except walking period without pain at 1-month follow-up period. In conclusion, we suggest that low-level laser is an effective treatment modality for PCE and it can be used as an alternative treatment method to other conventional treatment modalities.