Comparative study of combination therapy with non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs and different doses of low level laser therapy in acute low back pain

According to various side effects of medication in low back pain, respecting conservative therapy, owing to the widespread use of laser therapy in recent decades, related therapeutic outcomes were different and contradictory. The current study aimed at comparing the effect of non-steroidal drugs and laser therapy with different doses in patients with acute low back pain.

METHODS

The current randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 65 patients randomly assigned to four groups. In group 1(N = 20), only drug therapy and in group 2(N = 15), laser therapy (3 J/cm ²) in addition to medication was administrated to the patients. For group 3(N = 15), a therapeutic plan similar to that of group 2 was given; however, the laser dose was 6 J/cm ². Finally, drug therapy plus placebo laser therapy was applied to group 4(N = 15). Pain was compared among the groups using visual analogue scale and Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire.

RESULTS

Significant difference between baseline pain scores and those of the weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 of laser therapy in all intervention groups. Also, the results of the intergroup analyses showed a significant difference between group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3. There was a significant ODI difference between the groups after laser therapy.

CONCLUSION

Findings showed that laser therapy plus drug therapy in comparison with drug therapy alone was a more effective method to relieve pain and disability in patient with acute low back pain; however, evidence to support this finding is still inadequate.