Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Controlled Clinical Trial
. 2009 Feb;9(1):59-65.
doi: 10.17305/bjbms.2009.2858.

Laser therapy of painful shoulder and shoulder-hand syndrome in treatment of patients after the stroke

Azra Karabegović  1 , Suada Kapidzić-Duraković, Farid Ljuca
Affiliations
Controlled Clinical Trial

Laser therapy of painful shoulder and shoulder-hand syndrome in treatment of patients after the stroke

Azra Karabegović et al. Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2009 Feb.

Abstract

The common complication after stroke is pain and dysfunction of shoulder of paralyzed arm, as well as the swelling of the hand. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of LASER therapy and to correlate with electrotherapy (TENS, stabile galvanization) in subjects after stroke. We analyzed 70 subjects after stroke with pain in shoulder and oedema of paralyzed hand. The examinees were divided in two groups of 35, and they were treated in the Clinic for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Tuzla during 2006 and 2007. Experimental group (EG) had a treatment with LASER, while the control group (CG) was treated with electrotherapy. Both groups had kinesis therapy and ice massage. All patients were examined on the admission and discharge by using the VAS, DASH, Barthel index and FIM. The pain intensity in shoulder was significantly reduced in EG (p<0,0001), swelling is lowered in EG (p=0,01). Barthel index in both groups was significant higher (p<0,01). DASH was significantly improved after LASER therapy in EG (p<0,01). EG had higher level of independency (p<0,01). LASER therapy used on EG shows significantly better results in reducing pain, swelling, disability and improvement of independency.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
VAS measurement in experimental group on the admission and discharge
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
VAS measurement in control group on the admission and discharge
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Swelling of the hand in experimental group on the admission and discharge
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Swelling of the hand in control group on the admission and dischaige
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Range of motion in the shoulder prior and after the physical treatment in EG
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Range of motion in the shoulder prior and after the physical treatment in CG
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Barthel index in experimental group on the admission and discharge
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Barthel index in control group on the admission and discharge
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
DASH score in experimental group on the admission and discharge
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10
DASH score in control group on the admission and discharge
FIGURE 11
FIGURE 11
FIM in experimental group on the admission and discharge
FIGURE 12
FIGURE 12
FIM in control group on the admission and discharge
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ancliffe J. Shoulder pain in hemiplegia: incidence and influenza on movement and recovery of function. Proceedings 3rd International Physiotherapy Congress Hong Kong. 2001:187–192.
    1. Teasell R.W. The Painful Hemiplegic shoulder. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation State of the Art Reviews. 1998;12(3):489–500.
    1. Stefanovski G. Balneoterapija sulfatno-sulfidnom mineralnom vodom u rehabilitaciji bolesnika nakon cerebrovaskularnog inzulta. U: Tišma R. Prirodna ljekovita sumporna voda Instituta «Mlječanica»; Kozarska Dubica. 2005:161–165.
    1. Poduri K.R. Shoulder pain in stroke patients and its effect on rehabilitation. J. Stroke. Cerebrovascular. Dis. 1993;3:261–266. - PubMed
    1. Lazović M. Laseroterapija. ECPD of the United Nation University for Peace. Beograd. 1997:14, 49.

Publication types