LOW-ENERGY LASER THERAPY IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Low energy laser (LEL) is a widely used treatment for a variety of mus culoskeletal disorders although convincing documentation of the effect is missing. We have examined the LEL effect on Rheumatoid Arthritis ( RA) in a double blind placebo controlled study. Twenty-two patients co mpleted the study (10 receiving LEL treatment) according to the protoc ol. A significant effect on pain score was found due to LEL treatment, but when data were corrected for disease variation the effect disappe ared. No effect of LEL could be demonstrated on the other assessed var iables: grip strength, morning stiffness, flexibility, erythrocyte sed imentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP). In conclusion, we did not find that LEL had any clinically relevant effects on RA.