Riassunto dello studio

Thirty patients with wrist pain were randomized to receive either home-based portable laser irradiation (n=15) or sham stimulation (n=15). The primary outcome of interest was the reduction of wrist pain as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE), grip strength, and lateral, palmar, and tip pinch strength. Outcomes were assessed before and after the three-week treatment period. Overall, the results of the study revealed that both groups showed significant reductions in VAS scores, although no significant difference between the groups was found. Both groups showed significant improvement in PRWE pain and total scores while PRWE function scores only significantly improved in the portable laser group. No significant differences were reported between the two groups for PRWE scores. The main findings suggest that while the home-based portable laser treatment provided some improvements in wrist function and pain reduction, similar outcomes were observed with the sham procedure, indicating a potential placebo effect.