EFFICACY OF LOW-LEVEL LASER AND KINESOTAPING IN THE TREATMENT OF NEUROPATHIC PAIN FOLLOWING MASTECTOMY

Background and purpose: This research was conducted to recognize the impact of adding kinesiotaping to low level laser therapy in reducing neuropathic pain following mastectomy.Materials and methods: It was a randomized controlled trial. Overall, 60 female patients, aged among 45 & 65 years, whom experienced neuropathic pain following mastectomy, were randomly assigned to three groups of equal size. Participants in Group A were administered low-level laser therapy (LLLT) plus kinesotaping as well as traditional exercises program (passive, active rang of motion (ROM) exercise and massage) for 4 weeks (3 times/week). While participants in Group B were administered kinesiotaping as well as traditional exercises program for 4 weeks (1 time/week). Group C received LLLT as well as traditional exercises program for 4 weeks (3 times/week). Electrography was used to measure nerve conduction velocity, neuropathic pain questionnaire short form was used to assess pain nature and visual analogue scale (VAS) utilized to measure the intensity of the pain.Results. Statistical analysis showed that the visula analog scale (VAS) and Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS) significantly decreased (P=0.0001) in all groups post treatment in favor of group A, while nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and median nerve amplitude revealed no substantial difference (P>0.05) among all groups after treatment.Conclusions: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been revealed to be an effective technique for reducing neuropathic pain after mastectomy.