THE TREATMENT OF EPICONDYLITIS WITH LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY (LLLT): A STUDY BY DR. VASTA

Our medical consultant, dr. Aldo Vasta carried out a clinical study with 200 patients, suffering from epycondylitis. This study proves that the low level laser therapy (LLLT) is efficient in the treatment of humeral epicondylitis. The critical aspects of this pathology are the difficult management of relapse and the recurrence of the symptoms. Here is an abstract. “HYPOTHESIS OF WORK The application of low level laser therapy in the treatment of humeral epicondylitis decreases the frequency of relapse of the symptoms and the related clinical signs (functional impotence of the hand with force loss in the front arm). SCOPE General Assessment of the effectiveness of low level laser therapy in the treatment of humeral epicondylitis. Specific Characterisation of the sample on the basis of the duration of the evolution of the disease in the moment of the diagnosis. Comparison of the evolution of the symptoms and signs before and after the laser therapy. Definition of the treatment time needed to obtain a positive response to the treatment and to satisfy the patient. Identification of any negative responses during the treatment. DESCRIPTION OF THE TREATMENT The patient was informed on what is the treatment and how it is carried out. By touch the operator identifies the painful point. The zone to be treated is cleaned with alcohol. The emitting probe is hold perpendicularly to the skin. During the treatment both the patient and the operator wear protective goggles. Treatment type: infrared laser therapy, using the laser system Lasermed 2200 of Medical Italia in Pesaro (IT) with a monodiodic laser probe of 17mW, 200nsec, 905 nm of wavelength. Laser emission mode: continuous. Probe: monodiodic laser probe. Application technique: probe (contact application on the painful epicondyle of the humerus). Treatment mode: (CW) Selected dose (energy density): Subacute (4j/cm 2), chronic (4j/cm 2). Treatment time for each point: about 6 min. Output power: 17 mW. Size of the treatment zone: Area of 1 cm2, pointed stimulation. Treatment frequency: 1. Subacute: on daily basis. 2 .Chronic: 3 times per week. LASER THERAPY EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION The results on the patients were monitored on weekly basis, data were collected using a survey on the effects obtained with each patient. To assess the effectiveness the following variables were used: Dependent variable Effectiveness of the laser therapy in the treatment of humeral epicondylitis. Independent variable Evolution of symptoms and signs, before and after the treatment. Assessment of muscular force, carried out using the various criteria, such as: assessment of muscular balance, response time to treatment, positive response to treatment, patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS The low level laser therapy was effective in the treatment of humeral epicondylitis. At the moment of the diagnosis, the majority of the patients suffered from epicondylitis, at a subacute stage. The comparison on the presence of symptoms and signs, at the end of the treatment between patients in a subacute and chronic stages showed no meaningful differences. By choosing the laser therapy, it was possible to solve the epicondylitis in a mean period of two weeks, with a high satisfaction degree of the patient. There were no negative responses to laser therapy in the patients of this study.” Provide effective treatments to humeral epicondylitis and other pathologies, find out Lasermed of Medical Italia click here.