Comparison of Cryotherapy and Laser Therapy for Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of cryotherapy and laser therapy with specific exercise prescription for the conservative therapeutic management of impingement syndrome. Between October 1994 - May 1995, 32 patients admitted to Dokuz Eylul University Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department who hadn't had operation indication were included into this study. First group (16 patients) received cryotherapy and exercise therapy, second group (16 patients) received laser and exercise therapy. Exercise program was same for both treatment groups. Patients were evaluated for pain, muscle strength, and range of motion, UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) Shoulder Rating Scale before treatment and results were compared after 15 sessions. Results of this study indicated that before treatment, significant differences were obtained in both groups (p<0.05), no significant differences were obtained between treatment groups (p>0.05). After treatment, only one patient with stage III disease had been operated. Therfore physical therapy is an important management of impingement syndrome.