(November 13, 2009 - Insidermedicine)

A treatment known as low-level laser therapy can provide relief for individuals with neck pain, according to research published online ahead of print in The Lancet.

Here is some information about low-level laser therapy:

•       Also called cold laser therapy, it is a treatment involving the application of red and near infra-red light to injured tissue

•       It stimulates wound healing, reduces inflammation, and helps improve nerve functioning

•       It can also be used to stimulate acupuncture points, as an alternative to needles

Researchers out of the University of Sydney analyzed data collected from 16 studies that looked at the benefits and risks of low-level laser therapy for neck pain. Together, the studies involved over 800 patients with either acute or chronic neck pain.

In the two studies that involved patients with acute neck pain, the pain was reduced by about 70% among those who received low-level laser therapy, compared with placebo. In five studies looking at the effects of this treatment on chronic neck pain, those who received the treatment were found to be about four times more likely to experience a reduction in pain than those on placebo. In the final 11 studies, pain was shown to be diminished by about 20% with low-level laser therapy. Seven studies that followed the patients for up to 22 weeks demonstrated that these pain relief benefits were maintained at least that long.

Today's research demonstrates the potential for using low-level laser therapy, a treatment that is both safe and easy to implement, for those with neck pain. It is believed that treatment works best if combined with a regular exercise and stretching routine.