Low-level laser therapy effect on vertebral artery blood flow in elderly with cervical disc degeneration. A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aims of the study. This study aimed to studying the effect of Low level laser therapy (LLLT) on vertebral artery blood flow in elderly with cervical disc degeneration. The effect of degenerative changes in the cervical spine on the vertebral arteries and on the supply of blood to the brain stem and the inner ear is now well known. In 20–30% of cases, ischemia of the posterior cranial fossa caused by vertebrobasilar insufficiency leads to death. Materials and methods. Research involved sixty patients of both gender, whose ages between 60 and 75 years, how are suffering from cervical disc degeneration. Subjects were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Group (A), Study Group, received low level laser therapy (LLLT) with a wavelength of 830 nm and power of 200 mW on vertebral artery bilaterally and routine physical therapy exercises. Group (B), the control group, received only routine physical therapy exercises. Both groups received three sessions per week for 12 weeks. Blood flow in both vertebral arteries was measured by assessing Resistivity Index using ultrasound Doppler, pre and post treatment for both groups. Results. There was no significant difference between groups pretreatment (p > 0.05). There was a significant decrease in resistivity index of right and left vertebral arteries of group A compared with that of group B post treatment (p < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in resistivity index of right and left vertebral arteries of group A and B post treatment compared with pre treatment (p < 0.001). The percent of change of resistivity index of right and left vertebral arteries in group A was 8.7 and 6.12% respectively and that in group B was 2.63 and 1.45% respectively. Conclusion. When LLLT was applied using the study's settings, older patients with cervical disc degeneration experienced bilateral improvements in blood flow through the vertebral arteries.