| Methods |
Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind assessors: Yes; Blind subjects: Yes; Blind therapists: Yes; Adequate follow‐up: Yes; Intention‐to‐treat analysis: No; Between‐group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes; Eligibility criteria: Yes |
| Participants |
35 participants (mean age 54.4, range 17‐77). Typical rotator cuff tendinitis with painful arc of abuction between 40‐120 degrees and painful restricted movement in at least oneof abduction external or internal rotation. NSAID therapy ceased with a one week washout before baseline assessment. Exclusion: participants with frozen shoulder, acromioclavicular arthritis or clinical rotator cuff tears; patients who were pregnant or breast feeding or who had received ultra‐articular or subacromial steroids in the three months prior to treatment; patients who had systemic disease or who had recieved physiotherapy for shoulder lesion |
| Interventions |
Group 1: Twice weekly low level laser treatment for eight weeks. EAch treatment 10 minutes consisting of three pulses (3J) to each of a maximum of five tender points with a wavelength of 830mn operated at 0 power.
Group 2: same regimen but dummy laser operated at 0 power.
Both groups performed exercises. |
| Outcomes |
Assessed at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Outcomes: 1.Range of movement; 2. Painful arc score; 3. Resisted movement score; 4. Night, rest and movement pain (VAS); 5. Functional limitation (VAS) |
| Notes |
|
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
B ‐ Unclear |
