Table 4.
Characteristics of the Cohen’s d effect sizes and 95% CIs for all time points for the included studies. Cohen’s d effect sizes were interpreted as weak if between 0.2 and 0.49, medium if between 0.5 and 0.79, large if between 0.8 and 1.19, very large if between 1.2 and 1.99, and huge if equal or higher than 2.
| Studies | Comparison Groups Group 1 vs. Group 2 |
Outcome Measures | Time Point | Experimental Group 1 Mean ± SD |
Comparator Group 2 Mean ± SD |
Effect Size | 95% Confidence Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdelbasset et al., 2020 [44] | HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS | Pre | 6.7 ± 1.6 | 6.9 ± 1.5 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS | Post | 3.7 ± 1.1 | 6.1 ± 1.3 | 1.998 | 1.147–2.758 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | ODI | Pre | 39.8 ± 14.3 | 38.6 ± 12.9 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | ODI | Post | 19.3 ± 6.7 | 35.4 ± 11.5 | 1724 | 0.913–2.456 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | PDI | Pre | 33.5 ± 10.7 | 34.3 ± 11.2 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | PDI | Post | 24.7 ± 7.6 | 30.8 ± 9.8 | 0.698 | 0.000–1.364 | |
| Abdelbasset et al., 2020 [43] | HILT + EX vs. LLLT + EX | VAS | Pre | 6.3 ± 1.9 | 6.5 ± 1.7 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT + EX vs. LLLT + EX | VAS | Post | 3.5 ± 0.8 | 3.4 ± 0.9 | 0.117 | −0.505 to 0.735 | |
| HILT + EX vs. LLLT + EX | ODI | Pre | 37.3 ± 11.3 | 36.5 ± 12.7 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. LLLT + EX | ODI | Post | 18.5 ± 7.2 | 17.8 ± 6.4 | 0.103 | −0.519 to 0.721 | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | VAS | Pre | 6.3 ± 1.9 | 6.6 ± 1.6 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | VAS | Post | 3.5 ± 0.8 | 5.9 ± 1.8 | 1.723 | 0.967–2.411 | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | ODI | Pre | 37.3 ± 11.3 | 36.2 ± 12.3 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | ODI | Post | 18.5 ± 7.2 | 34.6 ± 11.8 | 1.852 | 1.078–2.551 | |
| Abdelbasset et al., 2021 [45] | HILT + EX vs. EMF + EX | VAS | Pre | 7.4 ± 2.2 | 7.2 ± 1.9 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT + EX vs. EMF + EX | VAS | Post | 3.2 ± 1.2 | 5.1 ± 1.7 | 1.291 | 0.525–1.997 | |
| HILT + EX vs. EMF + EX | MODQ | Pre | 42.4 ± 12.7 | 41.8 ± 11.8 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. EMF + EX | MODQ | Post | 23.6 ± 6.5 | 29.3 ± 8.7 | 0.742 | 0.031–1.419 | |
| HILT + EX vs. EMF + EX | PDI | Pre | 34.8 ± 11.4 | 34.5 ± 10.9 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. EMF + EX | PDI | Post | 22.6 ± 7.2 | 27.2 ± 9.5 | 0.546 | −0.151 to 1217 | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | VAS | Pre | 7.4 ± 2.2 | 6.8 ± 2.1 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | VAS | Post | 3.2 ± 1.2 | 6.3 ± 1.8 | 2.027 | 1.158–2.799 | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | MODQ | Pre | 42.4 ± 12.7 | 40.5 ± 12.3 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | MODQ | Post | 23.6 ± 6.5 | 35.7 ± 10.6 | 1.376 | 0.599–2.088 | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | PDI | Pre | 34.8 ± 11.4 | 33.9 ± 10.7 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | PDI | Post | 22.6 ± 7.2 | 30.5 ± 10.2 | 0.895 | 0.170–1.577 | |
| Alayat et al., 2014 [34] |
HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS | Pre | 8.36 ± 0.95 | 8.21 ± 1.1 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS | Post | 2.04 ± 0.83 | 3.21 ± 0.83 | 1.410 | 0.801–2.018 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS | 12 wFu | 2.64 ± 1.25 | 3.71 ± 1.30 | 0.840 | 0.272–1.409 | |
| HILT + EX vs. HILT | VAS | Pre | 8.36 ± 0.95 | 8.35 ± 0.88 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. HILT | VAS | Post | 2.04 ± 0.83 | 4.15 ± 2.03 | 1.454 | 0.81–2.097 | |
| HILT + EX vs. HILT | VAS | 12 wFu | 2.64 ± 1.25 | 5.65 ± 1.04 | 2.577 | 1.806–3.349 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | RDQ | Pre | 15.46 ± 1.17 | 15.63 ± 1.56 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | RDQ | Post | 4.43 ± 1.28 | 5.75 ± 0.99 | 1.142 | 0.554–1.73 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | RDQ | 12 wFu | 5.5 ± 1.17 | 6.92 ± 0.78 | 1.407 | 0.798–2.015 | |
| HILT + EX vs. HILT | RDQ | Pre | 15.46 ± 1.17 | 15.4 ± 1.19 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. HILT | RDQ | Post | 4.43 ± 1.28 | 6.35 ± 1.6 | 1.351 | 0.717–1.986 | |
| HILT + EX vs. HILT | RDQ | 12 wFu | 5.5 ± 1.17 | 7.35 ± 1.5 | 1.405 | 0.766–2.044 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | MODQ | Pre | 34.11 ± 3.14 | 34.5 ± 2.93 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | MODQ | Post | 13.9 ± 3.83 | 16.41 ± 3.01 | 0.722 | 0.159–1.285 | |
| HILT+EX vs. SL+EX | MODQ | 12 wFu | 15.14 ± 4.3 | 18.75 ± 3.07 | 0.954 | 0.379–1.529 | |
| HILT+EX vs. HILT | MODQ | Pre | 34.11 ± 3.14 | 35.55 ± 3.62 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT+EX vs. HILT | MODQ | Post | 13.9 ± 3.83 | 17.25 ± 3.14 | 0.941 | 0.337–1.545 | |
| HILT+EX vs. HILT | MODQ | 12 wFu | 15.14 ± 4.3 | 19.05 ± 2.96 | 1.028 | 0.418–1.637 | |
| Alayat et al., 2016 [35] | HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS | Pre | 8.00 ± 0.79 | 7.83 ± 0.80 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS | Post | 1.77 ± 0.73 | 2.83 ± 0.79 | 1.394 | 0.829–1.958 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | NDI | Pre | 45.87 ± 5.12 | 47.97 ± 3.29 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | NDI | Post | 7.80 ± 1.65 | 9.86 ± 1.48 | 1.314 | 0.756–1.872 | |
| Alayat et al., 2017 [36] | HILT(MLS) + EX vs. LLLT + EX | VAS | Pre | 39.76 ± Nr | 37.88 ± Nr | N/A | N/A |
| HILT(MLS) + EX vs. LLLT + EX | VAS | Post | 19.58 ± Nr | 38.90 ± Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| HILT(MLS) + EX vs. LLLT + EX | NDI | Pre | 37.80 ± Nr | 36.08 ± Nr | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT (MLS) + EX vs. LLLT + EX | NDI | Post | 17.82 ± Nr | 37.18 ± Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| HILT(MLS) + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS | Pre | 39.76 ± Nr | 36.36 ± Nr | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT(MLS) + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS | Post | 19.58 ± Nr | 55.52 ± Nr | 2.223 * | −1.303 to 5.748 * | |
| HILT(MLS) + EX vs. SL + EX | NDI | Pre | 37.80 ± Nr | 40.12 ± Nr | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT(MLS) + EX vs. SL + EX | NDI | Post | 17.82 ± Nr | 59.00 ± Nr | 2.63 * | −1.155 to 6.416 * | |
| Basford et al., 1999 [37] | HILT vs. SL | VAS | Pre | 35.2 ± Nr | 37.4 ± Nr | N/A | N/A |
| HILT vs. SL | VAS | Post | 17.1 ± Nr | 32.8 ± Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| HILT vs. SL | VAS | 4 wFu | 19.1 ± Nr | 35.1 ± Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| HILT vs. SL | ODI | Pre | 21 ± Nr | 26 ± Nr | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT vs. SL | ODI | Post | 13.3 ± Nr | 22.6 ± Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| HILT vs. SL | ODI | 4 wFu | 14.7 ± Nr | 22.9 ± Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| Choi et al., 2017 [38] |
HILT + CPT vs. CPT | VAS | Pre | 7.0 ± 0.8 | 7.0 ± 0.8 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT + CPT vs. CPT | VAS | Post | 3.4 ± 0.8 | 6.2 ± 1.4 | 2.714 | 1.69–3.738 | |
| HILT+CPT vs. CPT | ODI | Pre | 31.6 ± 11.5 | 33.1 ± 13.0 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT+CPT vs. CPT | ODI | Post | 19.0 ± 10.6 | 29.6 ± 10.7 | 0.997 | 0.197–1.797 | |
| Conte et al., 2009 [39] |
HILT + EX vs. EX | VAS | Pre | 60 ± 19.5 | 63.32 ± 16.8 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | VAS | Post | 27.9 ± 15 | 45.3 ± 14.3 | 1.187 | 0.619–1.755 | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | MODQ | Pre | 21.39 ± 6.9 | 23.12 ± 6.98 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. EX | MODQ | Post | 9.6 ± 5.98 | 16.6 ± 7.38 | 1.042 | 0.484–1.6 | |
| Dundar et al., 2015 [40] | HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS at rest | Pre | 5.9 ± 1.4 | 5.7 ± 1.5 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS at rest | 1 wFu | 2.7 ± 1.2 | 4.2 ± 1.6 | 1.063 | 0.579–1.546 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | VAS at rest | 9 wFu | 2.6 ± 1.2 | 4.1 ± 1.4 | 1.152 | 0.663–1.64 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | NDI | Pre | 32.6 ± 6.6 | 32.9 ± 8.3 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | NDI | 1 wFu | 21.1 ± 6.3 | 26.6 ± 7.1 | 0.82 | 0.349–1.291 | |
| HILT + EX vs. SL + EX | NDI | 9 wFu | 20.3 ± 6.22 | 26.1 ± 6.7 | 0.898 | 0.423–1.373 | |
| Ekici et al., 2021 [46] | HILT vs. SL | VAS | Pre | 60.9 ± 21.9 | 59.3 ± 20.5 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT vs. SL | VAS | 1 wFu | 27.7 ± 19 | 56.8 ± 19.6 | 1.51 | 0.96–2.02 | |
| HILT vs. SL | VAS | 9 wFu | 26.3 ± 24 | 55 ± 18.8 | 1.33 | 0.8–1.83 | |
| HILT vs. SL | JFLS-20 | Pre | 72.15 ± 47.16 | 53.50 ± 33.86 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT vs. SL | JFLS-20 | 1 wFu | Nr | Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| HILT vs. SL | JFLS-20 | 9 wFu | Nr | Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| Fiore et al., 2011 [41] |
HILT vs. US | VAS | Pre | 7 ± Nr | 7 ± Nr | N/A | N/A |
| HILT vs. US | VAS | Post | 3 ± Nr | 4 ± Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| HILT vs. US | ODI | Pre | 28 ± Nr | 28 ± Nr | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT vs. US | ODI | Post | 12 ± Nr | 16 ± Nr | Insufficient data | Insufficient data | |
| Gocevska et al., 2019 [42] | HILT + EX vs. US + EX | NRS | Pre | 7.22 ± 8.85 | 6.96 ± 0.94 | N/A | N/A |
| HILT + EX vs. US + EX | NRS | Post | 2.11 ± 0.8 | 4.26 ± 1.06 | 2.290 | 1.603–2.976 | |
| HILT + EX vs. US + EX | NRS | 12 wFU | 1.89 ± 0.64 | 4.89 ± 0.85 | 3.987 | 3.065–4.909 | |
| HILT + EX vs. US + EX | ODI | Pre | 44.33 ± 3.92 | 45.22 ± 3.91 | N/A | N/A | |
| HILT + EX vs. US + EX | ODI | Post | 16.29 ± 4.85 | 26.74 ± 4.51 | 3.987 | 1.271–3.192 | |
| HILT + EX vs. US + EX | ODI | 12 wFU | 15.89 ± 4.58 | 26.63 ± 3.73 | 2.571 | 1.85–3.292 |
Legend: CPT: Conservative physiotherapy treatment; EX: Therapeutic Exercises; HILT: High-intensity laser therapy; JFLS-20: Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-20; MLS: Multiwave Locked System; MODQ: Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire; MT: Medical therapy agents; NDI: Neck disability index; ODI; Oswestry Disability Index; Post: After the treatment; PDI: Pain Disability Index; Pre: Before the treatment; RDQ: Roland disability questionnaire; SD: standard deviation; SL: Sham laser (placebo laser); US: Ultrasound treatment; VAS: visual analogue scale; wFu: weeks of follow-up. Nr: not reported; LLLT: Low-level laser therapy. Entries in bold are large, very large, and huge effect sizes. * values retrieved from the source article.