Comparative Efficacy of Low level Laser Therapy And Pulsed Ultrasound in the Management of Second - Degree Contusion

Abstract

Low level LASER therapy (LLLT) and pulsed ultrasound have been shown to relieve pain, promote healing and tissue repair in sport injuries. The objective of this study was to investigate the comparative efficacy of LLLT and pulsed ultrasound in the management of second - degree contusion in sportsmen. This is a 2 group pre-test – post-test quasi – experimental study involving 20 sportsmen, ten were in Group A (LLLT) and ten in Group B (P-US). They were aged between 19 and 30 years with the mean age 24.9 ± 3.28 years and 27.4 ± 3.75 years for the Group A and Group B respectively. Treatment consisted of six sessions, in a period of 2 weeks. Data collected on each participants included age, weight, height, site of injury, pain intensity, swelling, calf girth and range of motion. The result of the study revealed decrease in pain for both LLLT and pulsed ultrasound (p<0.05). There was more significant reduction in pain at the end of the 2 weeks than the 1st week for both modalities. Both modalities did not produce significant improvement in ROM or swelling over the two weeks period (P>0.05). It was concluded that both therapies are equally effective in the management of pain resulting from second – degree contusion in sportsmen. KEYWORDS: Low level LASER, pulsed ultrasound, second – degree contusions.