LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY(LLLT) FOR SHOULDER JOINT CONTRACTURE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of low level laser therapy (LLLT) on shoulder joint contracture caused by periarthritis scapulohumeralis (frozen shoulder). Twenty-four patients received treatment at our hospital between April, 2004 and March, 2007. We used a 1000 mW semiconductor laser device delivering 830 nm in continuous wave. We treated the shoulder joint contracture with the laser therapy system for 30 sec/point for a total of three minutes for each treatment session per shoulder, at an energy density per 30 sec treatment of 20.1 J/cm2. As a result of the four-week trial, the range of motion (ROM) in both flexion and extension improved. The efficacy ratio was 75% (p