[ effect of low power laser in the treatment of the lateral epicondylitis of elbow]

Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow is the most common contractile lesion of the elbow. It causes inflamation and pain at the origin of the wrist extensors muscles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low power laser on the treatment of lateral epicondylitis of elbow. This double blinded clinical trial study was conducted in Fattemieh physiotherapy clinic of Rafsanjan. Fifty patients who were suffering from lateral epicondylitis of elbow were divided into two equal groups, randomly. One group received laser treatment and the other group was treated by placcbo. Intensity of local pain, radicular pain, sensitivity to palpation and grip strength were assessed in 1st, 5th and 10th sessions. Pain intensity and using grip strength were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale and dynamometer respectively. Data were analysed using ANOVA, tuoky and chi-squire tests. Results showed that laser has been effective in reduction of local pain and in increasing of grip strength of lateral epicondylitis of elbow [p<0.0001]. In 10th session, chi-squre test result revealed that low power laser can be effective in reduction of redicular pain and sensitivity to palpation of lateral epicondylitis of elbow [p<0.0001]. This can be concluded that after 10th session, laser can be effective on reduction of local and redicular pain, improving of sensitivity to palpation and increasing of grip strength of lateral epicondylitis of elbow

[ comparison of low power laser with ultrasound in the treatment of the shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis]

Shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is very common. Each person experiences this disorder at least once during his life. This problem is the third most common of the musculoskeletal disorders, after low back pain treatment of the shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. This is a double blind clinical trial study performed in the Fattemieh physiotherapy clinic of Rafsanjan. In for 12 months, from 20 January 2007 to 20 January 2008. Ninety patients who were afflicated with rotator in 10 sessins. Each group either received low power laser or ultrasound or none [control group]. Intensity of the pain and improvement of the movement was assessed during 1[st], 5[th], and 10[th] sessions. Data were analyzed by SPSS. The results of this study showed that low power laser can be more effective than ultrasound in the relieving the pain among patients [p<0.000]. Although, in 5[th] session, low power laser was more effective than ultrasound in improving the movement of the shoulder [p<0.000], in the 10[th] session ultrasound was shown to be a better method [p<0.000]. It can be concluded from our results that low power laser is a more suitable method for reducing the pain of the shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. However, ultrasound can be amore effective method for improving the movement of the soulder

[Vibroarthrography, a novel technique in diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis]

Use of joint sound signals for diagnosis of knee joint disorders has been greatly welcomed since it is a non-invasive and inexpensive technique. In vibroarthrography [VAG], joint sound signals can be detected using a contact sensor over the skin surface of the joint during movements. This study aimed to investigate the capability of this method in diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis [OA]. In this study which was the evaluation of a diagonstic test, forty-four knees from 22 healthy and OA-diagnosed subjects were included in this study. A miniature potentiometer was placed on the patellar, medial and lateral sides of the knees and their VAG signals were recorded in a non-weight bearing [NWB] flexion/extension task. The average root mean square [RMS] of the signals were calculated and compared between the healthy and OA knees. The findings of this study revealed more physiologic signals in healthy knees. OA-diagnosed knees showed less physiologic signals with some spikes among them. There was no significant difference between these two groups in terms of the total average RMS of the VAG signals. However, a noticeable difference was noted between the right and left OA knees. The left OA knees did not show significantly different RMS in the medial and lateral sites, however this finding was significantly different on the patellar site compared to the left healthy knees [p=0.03]. Based on these findings, the VAG technique might be considered as a non-invasive method in diagnosis of OA changes of the knees. It was also concluded that use of potentiometer on the patella is possibly helpful in diagnosis of only left knee osteoarthritis