Is laser acupuncture an effective treatment for shoulder and neck pain in office workers?

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Shoulder and neck pain (SNP) are common and burdensome conditions in office workers with a high prevalence. It is a serious public health problem and has a significant detrimental impact on one’s quality of life, physical functioning, economic structure, families, employers and health care system. Lengthened working hours on the computer, prolonged sitting position, and static postures are the most contributing factors, and medication and physiotherapy were the most common intervention strategies that people chose to manage their pain. The low-level laser therapy (LLLT), also known as cold laser, photobiomodulation, applies specific wavelengths and low power density, has been shown to be an additional option in the SNP management to relive pain and re-establish quality of life. LLLT can promotes analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, improve blood circulation, boosts immunity and speeds up wound healing, with no reported adverse effects and well received by many patients. Low-level laser acupuncture (LLLA), is one of the recent technological developments (e.g., electroacupuncture) in the practice of acupuncture, which integrate the cutting-edge laser technology and thousands of years old TCM modality. Instead of the needle stimulation on the acupuncture points, low intensity non thermal laser irradiation is applied to elicit the cellular level’s physiologic effects with sufficient energy. It is, therefore, non-invasive, painless, non-infectious and safe to use. LLLA has become increasingly attractive for patients with needle phobias, older people and children. Several studies demonstrated that LLLA is a promising modality in pain management. However, there is no consolidated evidence for LLLA in managing shoulders and neck pain, and more studies in this field are required to provide updated evidence. Therefore, this study aims to provide compelling evidence of the feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of LLLA for office workers with SNP. We anticipate, based on past research, the LLLA we will provide may be helpful in reducing levels of SNP. We hope that the results of our research can be used to inform our knowledge about how to better manage SNP that many office workers are suffering.