Low Level Laser Therapy: laser radiation absorption in biological tissues

Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Versus Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Clinical Trial

“…This dominance may be due to the fact that female patients are more likely to seek treatment and show up for the follow-ups. (19) In 2005, Kato et al assessed tenderness of temporalis and masseter muscles but they did not examine medial and lateral pterygoids. (17) The level of pain was not significantly different between the two groups of TENS and LLLT but pain in each group significantly decreased after the intervention.…”

“…The exclusion criteria were pregnancy, psychological conditions, and depression for which patients took medications, (1,2,12,19) missing of more than three teeth in each jaw (not replaced), except for the third molars, ages below 18 and over 60 years, systemic diseases other than MPS, (24) contraindication for laser therapy or TENS, (2) contraindication for administration of methocarbamol or naproxen, (2) and history of receiving MPS treatment in the past two weeks. (1,12,19) Based on previous studies and a pilot study (power of 80), the sample size was calculated to be 60 patients. Sampling was sequential randomized, and patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the test or control groups.…”

“…(2) (III)Pain of the TMJ when opening or closing the mouth actively by the patient was recorded using a VAS (visual analog scale). (1,12,19) (IV)Jaw deviation at maximum opening was measured by a caliper relative to the midline. (2) Deflection is defined as jaw deviation when opening the mouth; in this state, the midline in maximum opening does not correspond to its position in the closed mouth.…”

“…Deviation is defined as jaw deviation in the path of mouth opening; however, in maximum opening, the midline corresponds to its position in the closed mouth. (19) (V)Patients were asked about headache, earache or neck pain experience (related muscles); if the answer was positive, the patients were asked to express their level of pain using a VAS. (19) After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 55 subjects were enrolled; 18 subjects were assigned to group A and subjected to TENS and pharmaceutical therapy; 19 subjects were assigned to group B and received LLLT and pharmaceutical therapy, and 18 subjects were assigned to group C or the control group and underwent sham laser therapy and pharmaceutical therapy.…”

“…(17) Many studies have evaluated the efficacy of different modalities for treatment of MPS, reporting variable, and sometimes, controversial results. (1)(2)(3)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23) Considering the existing controversy in the efficacy of MPS treatments, this study sought to assess the efficacy of TENS and LLL for treatment of MPS in comparison with a sham laser.…”