Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
The Effectiveness of High-intensity Laser Therapy After Arthroscopic Shoulder Rotator Cuff Repair.
Sponsor: Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
Summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Despite surgical repair, patients frequently experience postoperative pain, limited range of motion, and delayed functional recovery. Conventional physiotherapy represents the standard of care; however, additional strategies may be needed to optimize outcomes. High-intensity laser therapy has been proposed as a non-invasive intervention with potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, but its effectiveness in the postoperative setting remains unclear. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: an experimental group receiving HILT in addition to conventional physiotherapy, and a control group receiving sham laser therapy combined with the same rehabilitation program. Both groups will undergo standardized rehabilitation sessions including therapeutic exercise. The primary outcome is pain intensity, measured using the Visual Analog Scale. Secondary outcomes include shoulder range of motion (active and passive), muscle strength, functional status assessed with the Constant-Murley Score, and patient-reported disability and quality of life measured using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (at the start of rehabilitation), during the intervention period after the fourth (T1), seventh (T2), and tenth (T3) physiotherapy sessions, and at follow-up at 4 months.
Official title: The Effectiveness of High-intensity Laser Therapy After Arthroscopic Shoulder Rotator Cuff Repair. A Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
30 Years - 70 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
46
Start Date
2026-09
Completion Date
2029-09
Last Updated
2026-05-05
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
High intensity laser therapy
High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) will be administered using the HIRO TT device (ASA s.r.l., Italy), based on a solid-state Nd:YAG laser source with near-infrared emission at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The treatment protocol consists of 10 sessions delivered on alternate days. Each session will last 60 minutes and will include 15 minutes of laser therapy followed by 45 minutes of conventional physiotherapy. Laser therapy will be applied to two areas of 10 × 10 cm each, located at the anterolateral and posterior aspects of the shoulder. The treatment will be delivered using a pulsed emission with a frequency of 15 Hz, a total energy of 1000 J, and an energy density of 5 J/cm². The mean power will range between 6 and 10.5 W, with a peak power between 1 and 3 kW, for a total application time of 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
Sham laser therapy
The sham laser intervention will be delivered using the same HIRO TT device and identical treatment procedures as the active HILT group. The same anatomical areas (two treatment areas of 10 × 10 cm located at the anterolateral and posterior aspects of the shoulder) will be targeted, with identical session duration and patient positioning. During sham treatment, the device will remain switched on; however, no therapeutic laser emission will be delivered. This approach is intended to ensure participant blinding by replicating the visual and procedural aspects of the active intervention without providing any active therapeutic effect.
Locations (1)
Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
Bologna, Italy