Comparison of Effectiveness of Low Dose Laser and Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation in Hemiplegic Shoulder

Ankara Etlik City Hospital

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain

Treatments: Other: Conventional physical therapy; Device: Low Dose Laser; Device: TENS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07203222

AEŞH-EK-2025-066

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), which are analgesic modalities that play an important role in the treatment of this frequently encountered complication. The secondary aim of the study is to evaluate its effectiveness on upper extremity function, quality of life, sleep, and fatigue.

Full description

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. (1) Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) is one of the common complications seen in up to 40% of stroke patients and negatively affects the rehabilitation process. (2) It is also a significant complication that prolongs hospital stay. Therefore, developing effective treatment strategies is extremely important.

The primary aim of our study is to compare the efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), which are analgesic modalities that play an important role in the treatment of this frequently encountered complication.

Treatment methods used for hemiplegic shoulder pain: Exercises (joint range of motion, stretching and strengthening exercises), physical therapy agents, kinesiology taping, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), suprascapular nerve block (SSNB), suprascapular nerve pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) intramuscular injections, corticosteroid injections, segmental neuromyotherapy (SNMT), trigger point dry needling (TrPs-DN), robot-assisted shoulder rehabilitation therapy (RSRT), platelet-rich plasma (PrP) injection, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ( rTMS), peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), functional electrical stimulation (FES), and interferential current stimulation (IFC) play a role in the management of the hemiplegic shoulder pain clinic. (3)

Enrollment: 45 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18-75 years
• Patients with shoulder pain on the hemiplegic side *Mini mental state examination ≥ 25
• History of stroke within the last 2 weeks to 6 months
• Patients with shoulder pain scoring 40-100 points on the visual analogue scale (moderate to severe) will be included.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who refuse to provide written consent or attend follow-up visits

• Being under 18 years of age

• Patients with motor aphasia

• Patients who have had a shoulder injection within the last 3 months

• Patients who have undergone upper extremity botulinum toxin application within the last 6 months

  *Pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant

• Inflammatory rheumatic disease

• Patients who have undergone shoulder injury and surgery prior to stroke

• Patients with other conditions that could explain shoulder pain

• Patients with complex regional pain syndrome

• Patients with a history of epilepsy, pacemaker, or arrhythmia diagnosis

• Malignancy

• Diseases such as Alzheimer's or dementia that cause cognitive impairment -History of psychiatric disorders such as major depression or personality disorders

• Alcohol and drug addiction

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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45 participants in 3 patient groups

Low Dose Laser Group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients who will undergo low laser therapy

Treatment:

Device: Low Dose Laser

Other: Conventional physical therapy

TENS group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients who will undergo TENS therapy

Treatment:

Device: TENS

Other: Conventional physical therapy

Conventional Therapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients who will undergo conventional therapy

Treatment:

Other: Conventional physical therapy