Tennis and Golfers Elbow (lateral and medial epicondylitis)
Recommendation:
900 probes =
- 6 Joules average (4 Joules WALT)
- 1-6 spots (1 Joule per spot)
- Frequency = 1x per day down to 1x per week
In a review article from 2008 Bjordal et al. looked at low level laser therapy in lateral elbow tendinopathy (tennis elbow). They found that LLLT at 904 nm and possibly 632 nm wavelengths directly to the lateral elbow tendon insertions offered short-term pain relief and less disability when used either alone or in conjunction with an exercise regimen. There findings contradicted the conclusions of previous reviews which failed to assess treatment procedures, wavelengths and optimal doses. They went further and said wavelengths 820, 830 and 1064 nm were not effective.
Later in 2018 in a subsequent review Mamais et al. said all of the review articles reported benefits associated with laser therapy versus other intervention or placebo, however the significance of the identified benefits differed between studies and reviews. No review reported negative effects of laser therapy or harm to patients. However, they did point out the previous reviews were of low quality and more work needed to be done.