Laser therapy of painful shoulder and shoulder-hand syndrome in treatment of patients after the stroke

Abstract

The common complication after stroke is pain and dysfunction of shoulder of paralyzed arm, as well as the swelling of the hand. Th e aim of this study was to determine the eff ects of LASER therapy and to correlate with electrotherapy (TENS, stabile galvanization) in subjects after stroke. We analyzed 70 subjects after stroke with pain in shoulder and oedema of paralyzed hand. The examinees were divided in two groups of 35, and they were treated in the Clinic for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Tuzla during 2006 and 2007. Experimental group (EG) had a treatment with LASER, while the control group (CG) was treated with electrotherapy. Both groups had kinesis therapy and ice massage. All patients were examined on the admission and discharge by using the VAS, DASH, Barthel index and FIM. The pain intensity in shoulder was signifi cantly reduced in EG (p<0,0001), swelling is lowered in EG (p=0,01). Barthel index in both groups was signifi cant higher (p<0,01). DASH was signifi cantly improved after LASER therapy in EG (p<0,01). EG had higher level of independency (p<0,01). LASER therapy used on EG shows signifi cantly better results in reducing pain, swelling, disability and improvement of independency.