LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY - A PROSPECTIVE DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL OF ITS USEIN AN ORTHOPEDIC POPULATION

We have conducted a prospective, double blind trial of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in musculoskeletal injuries to assess its efficacy. We assigned patients with a variety of painful skeletal soft tissue cond itions to one of two treatment groups, treatment from a functional mac hine, placebo treatment from an inactive machine. Both machines were i dentical and bath appeared functional. The operative status of each ma chine was unknown to both the therapist and the patient. The results s uggest that LLLT has no significant therapeutic effect and acts primar ily as a placebo.