Skin adhesive low-level light therapy for dysmenorrhoea: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot trial

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 286; no. 4; pp. 947 - 952
• Main Authors: Shin, Yong-Il, Kim, Nam-Gyun, Park, Kyoung-Jun, Kim, Dong-Wook, Hong, Gi-Youn, Shin, Byung-Cheul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.10.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acupuncture Points; Adhesives; Adult; Double-Blind Method; Double-blind studies; Dysmenorrhea - physiopathology; Dysmenorrhea - therapy; Endocrinology; Female; General Gynecology; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Light therapy; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Menstruation; Myometrium - physiopathology; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Pain; Pain Measurement; Phototherapy; Pilot Projects; Young Adult; Dysmenorrhoea; Smooth muscle relaxation; Low-level light therapy; Acupuncture point
• ISSN: 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-012-2380-9

Purpose The cause of dysmenorrhoea is an abnormal function of smooth muscles in the uterus due to long-term deficient blood supply into smooth muscle tissue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of skin adhesive low-level light therapy (LLLT) in participants with dysmenorrhoea. Methods Thirty-one women were included in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot trial. Twenty-one women were treated with active LLLT and ten women were treated with placebo one. The therapy was performed in a laboratory room for 20 min a day over a period of 5 days prior to the expected onset of menstruation. The outcome was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) for each participant’s dysmenorrhoeal pain severity. VAS of each subject was measured every month for 6 months. Results In the active LLLT group, 16 women reported successful results during their first menstrual cycle just after active LLLT and 5 women had successful results from the second menstrual cycle after active LLLT. The pain reduction rate was 83 % in the active LLLT group, whereas there was only a slight and temporary reduction in pain in the placebo LLLT group. Changes of VAS within 6 months of LLLT showed statistical significance ( p  = 0.001) over placebo control. Conclusions Our study suggests that skin adhesive LLLT on acupuncture points might be an effective, simple and safe non-pharmacological treatment for dysmenorrhoea.