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
. 2024 Sep 5.
doi: 10.1007/s00508-024-02437-y. Online ahead of print.

Effects of low-level laser therapy on symptomatic calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy : A prospective randomized controlled study

Yasemin Tombak  1 , Ozgur Zeliha Karaahmet  2 , Aysegul Tombak  3 , Eda Gurcay  4
Affiliations

Effects of low-level laser therapy on symptomatic calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy : A prospective randomized controlled study

Yasemin Tombak et al. Wien Klin Wochenschr. .

Abstract

Objective: Rotator cuff calcific tendinitis (RCCT) is a benign but incapacitating condition and in some patients it is the cause of chronic debilitating pain and functional disability. We aimed to reveal the short-term effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on clinical and sonographic parameters in patients with symptomatic RCCT.

Method: This prospective randomized controlled study analyzed 76 painful shoulders of 68 patients aged 18-75 years, with over 3 months of shoulder pain and where RCCT was confirmed sonographically. Patients in the LLLT group (received 5 LLLT sessions per week and home exercises for 5 days/week for 3 weeks) and the control group (received home exercises, 5 days/week for 3 weeks) were assessed clinically and sonographically just before and after treatment, recording pain intensity, range of motion (ROM), shoulder functional status, location (supraspinatus/infraspinatus, subscapularis), number and degree of calcification. Degree of calcification was determined with ultrasound and classified by the Bianchi-Martinoli classification. The LLLT was applied to the calcified areas marked under ultrasound guidance.

Results: Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in ROM, pain intensity, shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) pain/disability/total, and degree of calcification after treatment. No significant change was achieved for calcification in the control group. Considering the change values, improvements in abduction, extension, pain intensity, SPADI pain/disability/total, calcification number, and calcification degree parameters were found to be statistically significantly better in the LLLT group than in the control group.

Conclusion: Adding LLLT to the home program in treatment of symptomatic RCCT outperformed the home program alone, reducing the number and severity of calcifications, improving pain and disability.

Keywords: Bianchi Martinoli; Exercise; LLLT; Shoulder pain; Ultrasound.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Heron SR, Woby SR, Thompson DP. Comparison of three types of exercise in the treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy/shoulder impingement syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Physiotherapy. 2017;103:167–73. - PubMed
    1. Uhthoff HK, Loehr JW. Calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1997;5:183–91. - PubMed
    1. Farin PU, Jaroma H. Sonographic findings of rotator cuff calcifications. J Ultrasound Med. 1995;14:7–14. - PubMed
    1. Clavert P, Sirveaux F. Société française d’arthroscopie. Les tendinopathies calcifiantes de l’épaule [Shoulder calcifying tendinitis. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot. 2008;94:336–55. - PubMed
    1. Diehl P, Gerdesmeyer L, Gollwitzer H, Sauer W, Tischer T. Die Kalkschulter. Tendinosis calcarea. Orthopade. 2011;40:733–46. Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources