Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy on Functional Outcomes and Spasticity-Related Pain in Subacute and Chronic Stroke Patients with Plantar Flexor Spasticity: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial
In brief
High-intensity laser adds roughly 0.09 m/s to walking speed and markedly cuts spasticity-related pain
In a small sham-controlled trial of 22 subacute or chronic stroke survivors, three weeks of high-intensity laser therapy alongside standard rehab lowered pain scores dramatically and produced a modest, statistically adjusted gait-speed gain of about 0.09 m/s at six weeks. Range of motion, quality of life, spasticity tone and muscle size were unchanged, and the clinical relevance of the speed increase remains uncertain, warranting larger confirmatory studies.
- Journal
- American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation (Q1)
- Published
- 14 September 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Yunus Emre Bildik, Tugba Atan, Eda Gurcay, Engin Koyuncu
- PMID
- 42735219
- DOI
- 10.1097/PHM.0000000000003161
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Rehabilitation (top studies of the week, 20 September 2026): HILT reduces spasticity‑related pain in stroke
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on gait, spasticity-related pain, and function in subacute and chronic stroke patients with plantar flexor spasticity. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, sham-controlled, participant- and assessor-blinded trial. Twenty-four patients received HILT or sham laser (3 days/week for 3 weeks) with conventional rehabilitation (6 weeks). The primary outcome was the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT); secondary outcomes included pain, spasticity, range of motion (ROM), muscle thickness, and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: Twenty-two patients completed the study. A significant group-by-time interaction favored HILT for 10MWT (P=0.038) and pain (P<0.001). Between-group comparisons favored HILT for pain at weeks 3 and 6 (P<0.001) but showed no significant gait-speed difference. A post hoc covariate-adjusted analysis favored HILT in gait speed at week 3 (0.063 m/s, 95% CI 0.020-0.105; P=0.006) and week 6 (0.089 m/s, 95% CI 0.003-0.176; P=0.043). ROM and QoL improved similarly in both groups; spasticity and muscle thickness were unchanged. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary trial, HILT was a safe adjunct to rehabilitation, producing a large, durable reduction in spasticity-related pain, with a smaller, covariate-adjusted gait benefit of uncertain clinical magnitude. These findings are preliminary and require confirmation in adequately powered trials.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.