Significance of Low-level Laser Therapy in Rotator Cuff Tendinitis: A Prospective, Single-blind Study

 This prospective, single-blind trial aims at assessing the efficacy of low-level laser therapy in rotator cuff tendinopathy. 

 Fifty-four patients with painful impingement syndrome were equally divided into two groups, of which one was treated using an inactive machine via the placebo procedure (group A) and another from a functional machine (group B). The Range of Motion and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) questionnaires were implemented to conduct the comprehensive shoulder examination of the patients for four times within the research period of 2 months. 

 After one month of treatment, the patients in group B recorded better WORC score compared to group A (38 versus 46), which was significant (P=0.03). However, after one more month, the score changed to 40 for group A and 36 for group B, which was not statistically significant. In each group, the WORC score changed after treatment with significant difference (P value=0.023 in group A and 0.04 in group B), but the difference between both the groups was not significant after the final visit. 

 The results suggest that low-level laser therapy had no significant effect and acted primarily as a placebo treatment in rotator cuff tendinitis.