Study of Low Level Laser Therapy to Treat Low Back Pain

Inclusion Criteria

• Primary pain is in the lower back
• Low back pain is of musculoskeletal origin stemming from benign musculoskeletal problems wherein the etiology is lumbar sprain or strain
• Diagnosis based on review of patient history, physical examination, medication use history and review of prior medical records
• Low back pain is episodic chronic, having occurred and recurred over regular or irregular intervals of time over at least the last 3 months
• Degree of Pain rating on the visual analog scale (VAS) is 40 or greater
• Subject is willing and able to refrain from taking non study medications and herbal supplements for the relief of pain or inflammation including muscle relaxants throughout study participation
• Subject is willing and able to refrain from non study procedure therapies for the management of low back pain throughout study participation
• Primary language is English

Exclusion Criteria

• Low back pain is undiagnosed or has been diagnosed as being other than of benign musculoskeletal origin wherein the etiology is lumbar sprain or strain
• Low back pain has been diagnosed or cannot be satisfactorily ruled out as being in whole or in part due to one or more of the following origins - mechanical, inflammatory, neoplastic, metabolic origin, psychosomatic
• Tension myositis syndrome
• Known herniated disc injury
• Osteoporosis with compression fractures
• Congenital deformity of spine
• Current active chronic pain disease
• Cancer or cancer treatment in the past 6 months
• Use of the following analgesics within 7 days of study onset - paracetamol, acetominophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), compound analgesics, topical analgesics
• Use of the following muscle relaxants within the prior 30 days of study onset - cyclobenzaprine, diazepam, meprobamate
• Use of the following muscle relaxants within 7 days of study onset - carisoprodol, Metaxalone
• Use of the following antidepressants within 30 days of study onset if consumption has commenced within that 30 day period - duloxetine, amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, nortriptyline, desipramine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Systemic corticosteroid therapy or narcotics taken within 30 days (inhaled and topical corticosteroids okay) of study onset
• Local or epidural injection of corticosteroids within 3 months of study onset
• Botulinum toxin injection for chronic low back pain within 4 months of study onset
• Active infection, wound, other external trauma to the treatment area
• Surgery to the lower back or spine in the past 12 months
• Medical, physical or other contraindications for, or sensitivity to, light therapy
• Pregnant, breast feeding or planning pregnancy prior to study end
• Serious mental health illness such as dementia or schizophrenia or psychiatric hospitalization in past 2 years
• Developmental disability or cognitive impairment that precludes adequate comprehension of consent form or the ability to record study measurements
• Participation in other research in the past 30 days