ABSTRACT
In order to study the effect of photobiostimulation [He-Ne laser] on infantile Erb's palsy, 40 infants with a mean age of 15 days +/- 5 days with Erb's palsy presenting at birth, were divided into two matched groups. Group one consists of 20 infants received therapeutic exercises in the form of gentle passive exercise, followed by tapping on the muscles, approximation and PNF techniques. Group two consists of 20 infants, received laser, followed by the same therapeutic exercises program. Evaluation performed by using electromyography [EMG]. Brachial latency studies immediately before starting physical therapy program, three months and six months after treatment, respectively. Comparing pre- and post-treatment in both groups revealed a statistically significant improvement. Moreover, group two infants with a combination treatment of laser and therapeutic exercises had a significant improvement than that of group one. There was a statistically significant improvement and increase in interference pattern recorded from the tested muscles. Brachial latency studies [stimulation at Erb's point and picking up the response from the deltoid and the biceps muscles] showed a statistically significant improvement and decrease in brachial latency. The difference between pre- and post-treatment in both groups represents a physiological response to the physical modalities used during the study. The application of laser treatment in new-born infants with Erb's palsy is an efficient modality of treatment without any side effects and the earlier the administration of the new physical modality [laser] the better the results achieved