Combined low-level laser and ultrasound therapy showed possible efficacy and safety for growing pains in children over 30 days.
Photo by Terry Shultz P.T. / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Note that efficacy is possible but not definitive for this pilot study in children with growing pains.
This pilot randomized controlled trial assessed the safety and efficacy of combined low-level laser and ultrasound therapy compared with a placebo group. The study population consisted of children aged four to twelve years diagnosed with growing pains. Participants were followed for 30 days to evaluate outcomes.
The primary results indicated clinical safety and possible efficacy for the combined therapy. No specific adverse events, serious adverse events, or discontinuations were reported in the provided data. The tolerability profile was described as indicating clinical safety.
Key limitations include the classification of the study as a pilot study. Consequently, the certainty regarding efficacy is described as possible rather than definitive. The findings reinforce the need for further clinical trials to confirm these results.
Practice relevance is limited by the pilot nature of the research. Clinicians should interpret these results with caution while awaiting larger, definitive trials.
View Original Abstract ↓
Growing pains are a frequent form of musculoskeletal pain in children, with an uncertain etiology and currently limited therapeutic options. Considering the need for non-pharmacological approaches, the potential of low-level laser therapy combined with ultrasonic therapy stands out as a possible therapeutic technique for this condition. The objective of this study was to analyze the safety and efficacy of this treatment in children diagnosed with growing pains in order to justify the development of further research on the same topic. After confirmation of the diagnosis, participants were randomized into a treatment group, treated with the laser and ultrasound-emitting equipment, and a placebo group. Pain was assessed at three time points and recorded in a diary for 30 days. The results indicated clinical safety and possible efficacy, reinforcing the need for further clinical trials on the subject.
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