Table 1 

Characteristics of the included studies.∗

Authors Year Diagnosis n Interventions Follow-up
Ferreira et al [33[33] 2013 Temporomandibular joint disorder 40 Laser acupuncture (20) versus placebo (20) Monthly until intervention completed
Kannan [34[34] 2012 Myofascial pain 45 Ultrasound (15) versus laser (15) versus ischemic compression (15) End of intervention
Lin et al [35[35] 2012 Low back pain 60 Laser acupuncture (21) versus placebo (21) After each session
Sattayut and Bradley [36[36] 2012 Temporomandibular joint disorder 30 Low-energy-density laser (10) versus high-energy-density laser (10) versus placebo (10) After each session
Skorupska et al [37[37] 2012 Lateral epicondylitis 80 LLLT (40) versus ultrasound (40) (trigger point application versus anatomical site application; 20 in each subgroup) End of intervention; 12 mo
Lee and Han [38[38] 2011 Myofascial trigger point pain 24 Laser (12) versus placebo (12) End of intervention
Rayegani et al [39[39] 2011 Myofascial pain 49 Laser (17) versus ultrasound (16) versus placebo laser (16) 6 wk
Emanet et al [40[40] 2010 Lateral epicondylitis 47 Laser acupuncture (24) versus placebo (23) End of intervention; 12 wk after intervention
Glazov [41[41] 2010 Low back pain 100 Laser acupuncture (45) versus placebo (45) After each session; 6 wk after intervention; 6 mo after intervention
Katsoulis et al [42[42] 2010 Tendomyopathy 11 Laser (7) versus placebo (4) 3 mo after intervention
Öz et al [43[43] 2010 Myofascial pain 40 Laser (20) versus occlusal splint (20) End of intervention
Zhao et al [44[44] 2010 Knee osteoarthritis 40 Laser on acupuncture point (19) versus laser on sham point (17) 2 wk; 4 wk
Carrasco et al [45[45] 2009 Myofascial pain 60 Laser (30) versus placebo (30)—three-parameter groups; 10 in each group After four sessions; after eight Rx; 15 d after intervention; 1 mo after intervention
Glazov et al [46[46] 2009 Low back pain 100 Laser acupuncture (45) versus placebo (45) After each session; 6 wk after intervention; 6 mo after intervention
Shen et al [47[47] 2009 Knee osteoarthritis 40 Laser acupuncture (20) versus placebo (20) 2 wk; 4 wk
Shirani et al [48[48] 2009 Myofascial pain 16 Laser acupuncture (8) versus placebo (8) After first session; 1 wk; the day with complete pain relief
Shen et al [49[49] 2008 Knee osteoarthritis 48 Laser acupuncture (24) versus placebo (24) 2 wk; 4 wk
Dundar et al [50[50] 2007 Myofascial pain 64 Laser acupuncture (32) versus placebo (32) 4 wk
Lam and Cheing [51[51] 2007 Lateral epicondylitis 39 Laser acupuncture (21) versus placebo (18) After five sessions; end of intervention; 3 mo after intervention
Matsutani et al [52[52] 2007 Fibromyalgia 20 Laser (10) versus no laser (10) End of intervention
Mazzetto et al [53[53] 2007 Temporomandibular joint disorder 48 Laser (24) versus placebo (24) After four sessions; after eight sessions; 30 d after intervention
Yurtkuran et al [54[54] 2007 Knee osteoarthritis 55 Laser (27) versus placebo (25) 2 wk; 12 wk
Aigner et al [55[55] 2006 Whiplash injury 50 Laser acupuncture (23) versus placebo (22) After each session; end of intervention; 8–12 mo after injury
Armagan et al [56[56] 2006 Fibromyalgia 32 LLLT (16) versus placebo (16) End of intervention; 6 mo after intervention
Chow et al [57[57] 2006 Chronic neck pain 90 Laser (45) versus placebo (45) 7 wk; 12 wk
Kiralp et al [58[58] 2006 Myofascial pain 43 Laser (23) versus trigger point injection (20) End of intervention; 6 mo after intervention
Altan et al [59[59] 2005 Myofascial pain 53 Laser (23) versus placebo (25) 2 wk; 12 wk after intervention
Tam [60[60] 2005 Periarthritis of shoulder 60 Corticosteroid injection (20) versus LLLT (21) versus wait-and-see policy (18) 3 wk; 6 wk; 12 wk; 26 wk; 52 wk
Ceylan et al [61[61] 2004 Myofascial pain 46 Laser (19) versus placebo (20) End of intervention
Chow et al [62[62] 2004 Chronic neck pain 20 Laser (10) versus placebo (10) 7 wk; 12 wk
Gur et al [63[63] 2004 Myofascial pain 60 Laser (30) versus placebo (30) 2 wk; 3 wk; 12 wk
Ilbuldu et al [64[64] 2004 Trigger point pain 60 Placebo laser (20) versus dry needling (20) versus laser (20) End of intervention; 6 mo
Al-Shenqiti and Oldham [65[65] 2003 Rotator cuff tendinitis 55 Laser (26) versus placebo (29) End of intervention; 3 mo
Hakgüder et al [66[66] 2003 Myofascial pain 62 Laser (31) versus no laser (31) End of intervention; 3 wk after intervention
Gür et al [67[67] 2002 Fibromyalgia 40 Laser (20) versus placebo (20) End of intervention
Wong et al [68[68] 2001 Carpal tunnel syndrome 12 Laser (12) versus placebo (12) End of intervention
Chen et al [69[69] 1997 Myofascial pain 21 Placebo (5) versus continuous laser (7) versus pulsed laser (9) End of intervention
Conti [70[70] 1997 Temporomandibular joint disorder 20 Laser (10) versus placebo (10) After each session
Laaskso et al [71[71] 1997 Myofascial trigger point pain 41 Red laser (15) versus IR laser (16) versus placebo (10) Prior to each session; after each session
Lögdberg-Andersson et al [72[72] 1997 Tendinitis and myofascial pain 176 Laser (92) versus placebo (84) End of intervention; 4 wk after intervention
Papadopoulos et al [73[73] 1996 Lateral epicondylitis 29 Laser (14) versus placebo (15) After four sessions; after six sessions
Vecchio et al [74[74] 1993 Rotator cuff tendinitis 35 Laser (19) versus placebo (16) 2 wk; 4 wk; 8 wk
Haker and Lundeberg [75[75] 1991 Lateral epicondylitis 60 Laser (29) versus placebo (29) End of intervention; 3 mo; 6 mo; 12 mo
Haker and Lundeberg [76[76] 1990 Lateral epicondylitis 49 Laser acupuncture (23) versus placebo (26) End of intervention; 3 mo; 12 mo
Ceccherelli et al [77[77] 1989 Myofascial pain 27 Laser (13) versus placebo (14) End of intervention; 3 mo after intervention
Snyder-Mackler et al [78[78] 1989 Myofascial trigger point pain 24 Laser (13) versus placebo (11) Prior to each session; after each session
Waylonis et al [79[79] 1988 Fibromyalgia/chronic myofascial pain 55 Placebo versus laser acupuncture 6 wk after each round of intervention; 60 d; 120 –d
Lundeberg et al [80[80] 1987 Lateral epicondylitis 57 Placebo (19) versus GaAs laser (19) versus HeNe laser (19) Every 2 wk; end of intervention; 3 mo; 6 mo
Snyder-Mackler et al [81[81] 1986 Musculoskeletal trigger point pain 27 Laser (13) versus placebo (11) Prior to each session; after each session

∗See Appendix 2 for the outcome measures and summarized results of individual studies.

IR = infrared; LLLT = low-level laser therapy.