Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is the most common musculoskeletal pain disorder. One of the suggested treatments for MPS is High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT). HILT is a treatment method for addressing musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. Although many studies have demonstrated the effects of HILT, these effects are controversial due to the placebo effect of the laser. Therefore, we need to evaluate HILT against other physical therapy methods to achieve the best outcomes. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of HILT on pain intensity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and joint range of motion (ROM) in subjects with MPS.
Methods: PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect were searched from inception to January 28, 2025, and the search was subsequently updated to August 2, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical trials that assessed the effect of HILT on pain intensity, PPT, and joint ROM in subjects with MPS were included.
Results: Twelve RCTs were included. The within-group results indicated that HILT significantly improved pain intensity, PPT, and joint ROM. However, compared to the control group, HILT had superior or similar effects on pain intensity and joint ROM. Level B evidence indicates that HILT is more effective than placebo or sham and traditional treatments in the improvement of pain and ROM in patients with trapezius trigger points.
Conclusion: Compared to traditional treatments, HILT is more effective in reducing pain and increasing joint ROM in subjects with MPS. However, further studies comparing HILT with other treatments, especially dry needling, are needed to make a clinical decision.