A comparative study of the dose-dependent effects of low level and high intensity photobiomodulation (laser) therapy on pain and electrophysiological parameters in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common peripheral nerve disorder of the wrist. Nonsurgical treatments e.g. laser therapy may cause potential beneficial effects.To compare the dose dependent effects of low level laser therapy (LLLT) and high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on pain and electrophysiology studies in patients with CTS.Double-blind randomized controlled trial.Outpatient physiotherapy clinic.Ninety-eight participants with CTS, aged between 20 to 60 years, were randomly assigned to five groups.All participants undertook four standard exercises, with one group serving as exercise-only controls. Patients were randomly allocated to either high or low fluence LLLT or high or low fluence HILT received over 5 sessions. All patients were assessed by visual analogue scale, median compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and sensory nerve conduction studies before and 3 weeks after the interventions.VAS was significantly lower in all groups after 3 weeks (