Evaluation of the Effect of Laser Acupuncture and Cupping with Ryodoraku and Visual Analog Scale on Low Back Pain

Lin, Ming-Fa; Wu, Hung-Chien; Hsieh, Ya-Hui; Su, Chuan-Tsung; Shih, Yong-Sheng; Lin, Chin‐Feng; Wu, Jih‐Huah

doi:10.1155/2012/521612

Cited by 52 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Some trials did not fully describe details of their inclusion criteria for chronicity22 23 or specificity 2223 31 In trials where the mean baseline duration of pain was reported, this was categorised as ‘shorter’24 26 27 30 (average range 4.6–27 months) or ‘longer’18 21 25 28 29 34 (49 months to 13 years).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Low-Level Laser Therapy for Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

2016

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ObjectiveThe efficacy of low-level laser treatment (LLLT) for chronic back pain remains controversial due to insufficient trial data. We aimed to conduct an updated review to determine if LLLT (including laser acupuncture) has specific benefits in chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP).MethodsElectronic databases were searched for randomised trials using sham controls and blinded assessment examining the intervention of LLLT in adults with CNLBP. Primary outcomes were pain and global assessment of improvement with up to short-term follow-up. Secondary outcomes were disability, range of back movement, and adverse effects. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted. Subgroup analyses were based on laser dose, duration of baseline pain, and whether or not laser therapy used an acupuncture approach.Results15 studies were selected involving 1039 participants. At immediate and short-term follow-up there was significant pain reduction of up to WMD (weighted mean difference) −1.40 cm (95% CI −1.91 to −0.88 cm) in favour of laser treatment, occurring in trials using at least 3 Joules (J) per point, with baseline pain <30 months and in non-acupuncture LLLT trials. Global assessment showed a risk ratio of 2.16 (95% CI 1.61 to 2.90) in favour of laser treatment in the same groups only at immediate follow-up.ConclusionsWe demonstrated moderate quality of evidence (GRADE) to support a clinically important benefit in LLLT for CNLBP in the short term, which was only seen following higher laser dose interventions and in participants with a shorter duration of back pain. Rigorously blinded trials using appropriate laser dosage would provide greater certainty around this conclusion.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Five trials were classified as LA studies18 21 28 31 34 (table 2). Three of these trials used smaller doses of 0.2–1.1 J/point 18…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low-Level Laser Therapy for Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

2016

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“…Therefore, we were not able to determine the differences that contributed to the successful treatment. Nevertheless, further two RCTs showed a positive response for low back pain treated with LA [36,37].…”

Section: Low Back Painmentioning

confidence: 97%

Managing Pain with Laser Acupuncture

Wu¹,

Kuo²,

Hung³

et al. 2016

Pain Management

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According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, Qi flows through the body along specific paths known as meridians. Any disturbance in Qi evokes a Ying−Yang imbalance in the body, and consequently leads to disease. Pain results from blood stasis and Qi stagnation. Laser acupuncture (LA), first introduced clinically in the 1970s, combines the advantages of traditional acupuncture and modern laser medicine and has been applied for the treatment of various diseases. Here, we investigated studies on the use of LA for pain management according to current evidence. Articles including English keywords related to the use of LA for pain, published between January 2006 and August 2015 were sourced from PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases. On the basis of these papers, we explored the modern applications, mechanisms, and analgesic effects of LA. LA integrates the positive effects of acupuncture and low-level laser therapy, and is therefore effective in activating blood and in moving Qi. LA relieves pain through both anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. No adverse effects or complications resulting from LA were reported in the literature. In the hands of an experienced physician, LA can be a useful and safe method for pain management.

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“…The addition of manipulating methods such as lifting, thrusting, and twisting can further enhance the efficiency of acupuncture [29]. It has also been indicated that the application of laser acupuncture at acupoints can result in similar effects [30,31]. Currently, the most commonly used instrument to evaluate the quality of meridians in the human body is a Ryodoraku device [32,33].…”

Section: Effect Of Lifting and Thrusting On The Meridiansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The efficacy of laser acupuncture on meridians has already been validated [24,30]; however, the effects of adding the manipulating methods like traditional acupuncture has not yet been discussed. In this study, we adopted a self-developed laser-acupuncture system to explore the effects on meridians by using the manipulating methods of lift and thrust and compared the effects to those of laser acupuncture that does not employ these methods.…”

Section: Effect Of Lifting and Thrusting On The Meridiansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emulated laser-acupuncture system

Chang

Kuo

et al. 2014

Appl. Opt.

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A novel laser-acupuncture system was developed that can be used to implement the manipulation methods of traditional acupuncture, such as lifting and thrusting. A 780 nm laser diode with a maximum power of 90 mW was used as the light source. The focus point of the laser beam was adjustable by changing the position of the lens, facilitating the implementation of the lifting and thrusting methods of traditional Chinese medicine and achieving various stimulation depths at the acupuncture point. The images for the light spots from the outlet of the emulated laser acupuncture were captured at various distances and their sizes were calculated. The result showed that the diameter of the focused light spot (i.e., at the focus point) was 0.11 mm, which is close to the diameter of commonly used needles (with diameters of approximately 0.22 mm). The area of the light spot 1 cm from the focus point was approximately 50 times larger, indicating that the unit power might be 1/50 of the power of the focus point. To study the effect of emulated laser acupuncture on human meridians, after stimulating the Shenmen point (HT7) of five subjects and obtaining their Ryodoraku values of the heart meridian and the small-intestine meridian, a paired t test showed that the laser stimulation incorporating lifting and thrusting was significantly higher than the laser stimulation without lifting and thrusting (p<0.05). The result is consistent with traditional acupuncture in that acupuncture incorporating lift and thrust is more effective than that without lift and thrust.

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Evaluation of the Effect of Laser Acupuncture and Cupping with Ryodoraku and Visual Analog Scale on Low Back Pain

Cited by 52 publications

References 22 publications

Low-Level Laser Therapy for Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Low-Level Laser Therapy for Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Managing Pain with Laser Acupuncture

Emulated laser-acupuncture system

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