Effects of 36.5 Hz pulsed LASER acupuncture on pain and disease impact in fibromyalgia patients: A pilot randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND

Continuous laser acupuncture is widely used to treat chronic pain, particularly fibromyalgia. This condition causes both physical and psychological disability, leading to reduced quality of life. However, little is known about the therapeutic effects of laser acupuncture delivered at pulsed frequency. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of laser acupuncture at 36.5 Hz pulsed frequency, applied to Ryodoraku electrodiagnostic points, on pain intensity and the impact of fibromyalgia.

METHODS

DESIGN

Pilot randomized controlled clinical trial.

SETTING

Human Performance Research Laboratory at the university's physical therapy clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty volunteers (aged 40-78 years) with a clinical diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome.

INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly allocated into two groups. The Control Group (n = 10) received a 30-min educational lecture on fibromyalgia, while the Experimental Group (n = 10) underwent laser acupuncture treatment twice a week for three weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain Numeric Rating Scale, Generalized Pain Index, Symptom Severity Scale, and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Compared with the Control Group, the Experimental Group showed significantly lower scores on the Pain Numeric Rating Scale (p < 0.05; effect size = 2.07; power = 0.99), Generalized Pain Index (p < 0.05; effect size = 1.88; power = 0.97), Symptom Severity Scale (p < 0.05; effect size = 2.55; power = 0.99), and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (p < 0.05; effect size = 2.76; power = 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Laser acupuncture at 36.5 Hz pulsed frequency, applied to Ryodoraku electrodiagnostic points, demonstrated beneficial effects on pain intensity and functional impact in individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome. Key Points • LASER acupuncture has a positive effect on pain intensity.. • LASER acupuncture has an impact on fibromyalgia syndrome.