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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Aug;137(15-16):479-486.
doi: 10.1007/s00508-024-02437-y. Epub 2024 Sep 5.

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
Randomized Controlled Trial

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

Yasemin Tombak et al. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2025 Aug.

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: Y. Tombak, O.Z. Karaahmet, A. Tombak and E. Gurcay declare that they have no competing interests. Ethical standards: The study protocol received institutional review board approval (Protocol no. 54/13; dated 10.09.2018) in the format required by the clinical research ethics committee of the local institute, University of Health Sciences, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Consent to participate: all participants provided written informed consent in the format required by the clinical research ethics committee of the local institute.

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