Brazilian Journal of Pain
https://brjp.org.br/article/doi/10.5935/2595-0118.20230030-en
Brazilian Journal of Pain
Review Article

High-intensity laser for the treatment of pain: systematic review

Laser de alta intensidade para tratamento da dor: revisão sistemática

Ulli Uldiery Oliveira Silva; Elizabeth Teixeira Noguera Servin; Plínio da Cunha Leal; Caio Marcio Barros de-Oliveira; Ed Carlos Rey Moura; Otávio de Melo Silva-Junior

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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is one of the most prevalent causes of disability in the world, and the adverse effects promoted by analgesics can limit therapeutic success. In this context, laser appears as a complementary therapy that can enhance analgesia without increasing the incidence of undesirable adverse events. The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic review on the effectiveness and efficiency of high-intensity laser (HIL) in the treatment of pain. 
CONTENTS: A systematic search was carried out in Medline, LILACS, Pubmed and PEDro, from July 2020 to August 2022. The keywords pain, chronic pain, high-intensity laser and treatment were considered. The quality of selected studies was assessed using the PEDro scale. Included systematic reviews were assessed for methodological quality using the AMSTAR tool. The main measure studied was pain intensity. 227 studies were found and, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 articles were read in full, whit one being excluded for not assessing pain. Musculoskeletal disorders corresponded to 70,96% of the assessed diseases and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was the only pain measurement tool used in 100% of the studies. Approximately 57% of the studies were of high methodological quality (PEDro=7). In 53,84% of the trials, HIL was used as a single intervention, and in 46,16% it was associated whit exercises. In 96.15% of clinical trials and 100% of systematic reviews there were positive effects of HIL on pain.
CONCLUSION: HIL is an effective modality for analgesia by promoting significant pain relief, rapid recovery and improvement in patient’s quality of life, in a safe way. The diversity in irradiation parameters (dose, duration, interval and number of sessions) used, indicates the need for further randomized studies to establish its long-term efficiency.

Keywords

Pain, High-intensity laser, Therapy

Resumo

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dor é uma das causas mais prevalentes de incapacidade no mundo, e os efeitos adversos promovidos pelos analgésicos podem limitar o sucesso terapêutico. Nesse contexto, surge o laser como terapia complementar que pode potencializar a analgesia, sem aumentar incidência de eventos adversos indesejáveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão sistemática sobre a eficácia e a eficiência do laser de alta intensidade (LAI) no tratamento da dor. 
CONTEÚDO: Foi realizada uma busca sistemática nas plataformas Medline, LILACS, Pubmed e PEDro, de julho de 2020 a agosto de 2022. As palavras chaves dor, dor crônica, laser de alta intensidade e tratamento foram consideradas. A qualidade dos estudos clínicos selecionados foi avaliada utilizando a escala PEDro. As revisões sistemáticas incluídas foram avaliadas quanto à qualidade metodológica através da ferramenta AMSTAR. A principal medida estudada foi a intensidade de dor. Foram encontrados 227 estudos e com base nos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, 32 artigos foram lidos na íntegra, tendo sido excluído um por não avaliar a dor. As desordens musculoesqueléticas corresponderam a 70,96% das doenças avaliadas e a escala analógica visual (EAV) foi a única ferramenta de mensuração da dor utilizada em 100% dos estudos. Aproximadamente 57% dos estudos tinham alta qualidade metodológica (PEDro=7). Em 53,84% dos ensaios o LAI foi utilizado como intervenção única, e em 46,16% foi associado a exercícios. Em 96,15% dos ensaios clínicos e 100% das revisões sistemáticas, o LAI promoveu alívio da dor. 
CONCLUSÃO: O LAI é uma modalidade eficaz para analgesia ao promover significativo alívio da dor, rápida recuperação e melhora na qualidade de vida dos pacientes de forma segura. A  diversidade nos parâmetros de irradiação (dose, duração, intervalo e número de sessões) empregados, indica a necessidade de mais estudos randomizados para estabelecer sua eficiência em longo prazo. 

Palavras-chave

Dor, Laser de alta intensidade, Tratamento

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Submitted date:
09/15/2022

Accepted date:
05/31/2023

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