Effect of Laser Acupuncture on Forearm Bone Mineral Density and Wrist Pain in Osteoporotic Postmenopausal Women
Condition: Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
MeSH terms: Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Sixty-eight postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis aged between 50 and 60 years
      were randomly allocated to one of two equal sets. The drug treatment group received calcium
      and vitamin D3 supplement daily for 12 weeks. While the drug/laser acupuncture group received
      laser acupuncture therapy for 20 minutes per session 3 times weekly, in addition to the same
      calcium and vitamin D3 supplement.
    

Detailed description: 
      Sixty-eight postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis were recruited from the
      outpatient clinic of obstetrics and gynaecology department, faculty of physical therapy,
      Cairo University. Women were enrolled and assessed for their eligibility to participate in
      the study. Inclusion criteria were: age between 50 and 60 years and the body mass index (BMI)
      between 25 and 35 Kg/m2. Multiparas with parity of 5 or more were included. They had
      decreased forearm BMD with T score of DEXA less than or equal to -2.5 and wrist pain with
      visual analogue scale (VAS) ≥ 3. They all have natural menopause for at least four years.
      They all were medically stable. Participants were excluded if they had history of bone
      disease, renal, liver, endocrinal or parathyroid disorders, cardiac affection, using a
      pacemaker or taking any drugs which may affect bone metabolism.

      Each participant was informed about the study's nature, objective and usefulness, as well as
      her right to decline or leave the study at any time, and the confidentiality of any
      information gathered. A computer-based randomization program was used to randomize
      participants into two equal groups (Drug treatment Group and Drug treatment + LA Group). Drug
      treatment group (group A) included 34 postmenopausal women who only received oral calcium and
      vitamin D3 supplement (Calcium D3F® (Arab Company for Pharmaceutical& medicinal plants
      (MEPACO-MEDIFOOD, EGPYT). Each tablet contains 1000 mg of natural calcium carbonate, 1000 IU
      vitamin D3 (0.025 mg) and 0.25 mg Sodium Fluoride. They received 1 tablet once daily for 12
      weeks. Drug treatment + laser acupuncture group (group B) included of 34 postmenopausal women
      who received laser acupuncture therapy in addition to the same calcium and vitamin D3
      supplement for 12 weeks.

      Each woman in group (B) received 3 sessions per week of laser acupuncture, for 12 weeks. The
      patient was in crock lying for stimulation of acupoints in abdomen and lower limbs then asked
      to be in side lying for stimulation of acupoints in the back. After disinfection of the skin
      and careful localization of the acupoints, low level laser therapy (LLLT) (model: Lis 1050,
      SN: EM 13481014, manufactured by EME srl, Italy) was applied bilaterally on Dazhu (BL 11),
      Ganshu(BL 18), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (Sp6),
      Jingmen(GB25), Yanglingquan (GB34) andXuanzhong (GB39) acupoints, while it was applied in the
      midline on Guanyuan (CV4) andMingmen (GV4) acupoints. Each acupoint was irradiated for 60
      sec, with total duration of 20 min, wave length of 905 nm, average radiant power output of 12
      mW, energy density of 2 J/cm2, pulse radiation of 200 ms and pulse frequency of 5000 Hz
    

Intervention name(s): Calcium carbonate; Vitamin D3; laser acupuncture therapy
Intervention type(s): Drug; Drug; Device
Intervention description(s): 1000 mg of natural calcium carbonate once daily for 12 weeks; 1000 IU vitamin D3 once daily for 12 weeks; The patient was in crock lying for stimulation of acupoints in abdomen and lower limbs then asked to be in side lying for stimulation of acupoints in the back. After disinfection of the skin and careful localization of the acupoints, low level laser therapy (LLLT) (model: Lis 1050, SN: EM 13481014, manufactured by EME srl, Italy) was applied bilaterally on Dazhu (BL 11), Ganshu(BL 18), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (Sp6), Jingmen(GB25), Yanglingquan (GB34) andXuanzhong (GB39) acupoints, while it was applied in the midline on Guanyuan (CV4) andMingmen (GV4) acupoints. Each acupoint was irradiated for 60 sec, with total duration of 20 min, wave length of 905 nm, average radiant power output of 12 mW, energy density of 2 J/cm2, pulse radiation of 200 ms and pulse frequency of 5000 Hz
Other intervention name(s): Calcium D3F; Calcium D3F
Intervention MeSH terms: Calcium, Dietary; Vitamin D; Cholecalciferol; Calcium Carbonate; Calcium
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment