TREATMENT OF MEDIAL AND LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS - TENNIS AND GOLFER¨S ELBOW - WITH LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY: A MILTICENTER, DOUBLE - BLIND, PLACEBO - CONTROLLED CLINICAL STUDY ON 324 PATIENTS. 

Zlatko Simunovic, M.D. F.M.H. (1), Tatjana Trobonjaca, M.D. (2), Zlatko Trobonjaca, M.D. (3). (1) Pain Clinic, Laser Center, Locarno, Switzerland; (2) Laser Center, Opatija, Croatia; (3) Department of Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia.

Among the other treatment modalities of medial and lateral epicondylitis, Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been promoted as highly successful method. The aim of this clinical study was to determine the efficacy of LLLT on medial and lateral epicondylitis using Trigger Points (TPs) and scanning application technique under placebo - controlled conditions in two independent Laser Centers located at Locarno, Switzerland and Opatija, Croatia. Unilateral cases of either type of epicondylitis (n=283) were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups according to the LLLT technique applied: (1) TPs; (2) scanning; (3) combination of TPs and scanning. Bilateral cases of either type of epicondylitis (n=41) were subject to crossover, placebo-controlled conditions. Laser devices used in all groups of patients were infrared diode laser (GaAlAs) 830 nm continuous wave for treatment of TPs and HeNe 632,8 nm combined with infrared diode laser 904 nm. Pulsed wave for scanning technique. Treatment outcome was observed and measured according to the following methods:

1. short form McGill's Pain Questionnaire;
2. Visual Analogue Scales;
3. Verbal Rating Scales;
4. Patient's pain diary; and
5. hand dynamometer.

The result have demonstrated that total relief of pain with consequently improved functional ability was achieved in 82% of chronic cases all of which were treated by combination of TPs and scanning technique. The current clinical study provides further evidence of the efficacy of LLLT in the management of lateral and medial epicondylitis