In a randomized controlled trial published in the "Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research", low-level laser therapy (LLLT) outperformed routine physical therapy in improving shoulder range of motion, disability, and pain in people suffering from superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) rip. Researchers sought to examine the impact of routine physical therapy and LLLT in type II SLAP tear patients.

The anticipated sample size was 52, with an adjustment for an expected 20% dropout rate, resulting in a total sample size of 62, evenly distributed with 31 participants in each group. Both male and female subjects aged between 50 and 70 years, diagnosed with type II SLAP tear, and presenting a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score above 3 were eligible for inclusion. Diagnosis by a physician, orthopedic physician, surgeon, or rheumatologist was required for enrollment.

The volunteers were allocated to either Group A, receiving routine physical therapy, or Group B, receiving LLLT. Assessments for pain, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and shoulder ranges were conducted at baseline, the 4th week of treatment, and the 8th week of treatment for all patients. In terms of age, the mean and standard deviation were 1.8387±0.77875 for the routine physical therapy group and 1.8065±0.79244 for the LLLT group.

When comparing the mean SPADI total scores at the 8th week of evaluation, they were found to be 58.3226±4.57083 and 50.3871±4.85577, respectively. A profound mean difference of 7.935 was observed, favoring LLLT. Other endpoint measures, such as shoulder ranges and pain, also demonstrated significant improvement in LLLT group. Hence, for SLAP tear-affected people, LLLT was notably more efficient in relieving pain, reducing disability, and improving shoulder range of motion.

However, the abduction range of motion illustrated similar improvement in both groups. Furthermore, substantial enhancements were observed within both the LLLT and routine physical therapy groups at pre and post-evaluation levels. Notably, the total shoulder and pain disability index scores did not show profound improvement in the routine physical therapy group without the addition of LLLT.