Effectiveness of laser acupuncture as adjunctive therapy for limited range of motion in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

We evaluate the efficacy of laser acupuncture on the elbow range of motion in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common autoimmune inflammatory joint disease seen in clinical practice. Interventions for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis are under investigation. Forty subjects in the age range of 50–60 years old were divided into two groups; each group consisted of twenty subjects. The first group had undergone laser acupuncture treatment. The other group consisted of healthy subjects, forming the control group. A computer vision system was used for elbow range of motion (ROM) measurement before and after 12 sessions of treatment. The results showed that the pre- and post-treatment mean values ±SD of elbow flexion ROM were 143.75 ± 2.68 and 144.89 ± 3.12°, respectively. The differences between pre and post treatment mean values ±SD of elbow flexion ROM was non-significant (P > 0.05). The pre and post treatment mean values ±SD of elbow extension ROM were 1.01° ± 4.01° and 3.07° ± 1.25°, respectively. The differences between pre- and post-treatment mean values ±SD of elbow extension ROM was significant (P < 0.05). It was concluded that laser acupuncture significantly increased elbow extension ROM in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.