Electrophysiological and Quality-of-Life Improvements in Diabetic Neuropathy Patients with high power Laser Therapy: A narrative review

Mohamed, Karem Mostafa; Rehab, Nagwa Ibrahim; Mubarak, Lamis Safwat; Abed El Rashid, Nessrien Afify

doi:10.21608/ermhs.2025.369489.1050

Electrophysiological and Quality-of-Life Improvements in Diabetic Neuropathy Patients with high power Laser Therapy: A narrative review

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Physiotherapist, Al-Mehwar hospital, Egypt

² Department of Physical Therapy for Neurology, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt

³ Fellow of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, National Institute of Diabetes, Cairo University, Egypt

⁴ Physical Therapy Department for Surgery, Burn and Skin Disorders, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt

10.21608/ermhs.2025.369489.1050

Abstract

Diabetic neuropathy is a debilitating complication of diabetes, significantly impacting electrophysiological function and quality of life. This study evaluates the effectiveness of high-power laser therapy (HPLT) in improving electrophysiological parameters and enhancing the quality of life in patients with diabetic neuropathy. A total of 44 patients; 22 female and 22 male aging from 50 to 60 years old participated in this study. Patients were recruited from the out clinics of Neurology and internal medicine in Kasr Al-aini hospital in the period from July 2023 – January 2024. Patients had type 2 diabetes and neuropathic symptoms assessed using the Neuropathy Disability Score. High-power laser therapy was applied to target neuropathic pain and peripheral nerve dysfunction. High-power laser therapy with scanning motion, wave length of 980 nm and a power of 10w , used 3J per min for each planer surface and lumbar point, the lumbar region was also treated using the scanning motion. High-power laser therapy was used twice session per week for 6 weeks (total 12 session). Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) measurements and patient-reported outcomes on pain, fatigue, and functional limitations were assessed pre and post treatment.. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in NCV, reduced neuropathic pain, and enhanced patient-reported quality of life following HPLT intervention. Findings suggest that HPLT has a promising therapeutic role in addressing diabetic neuropathy, potentially surpassing conventional pharmacological approaches. Future studies should focus on long-term effects, gender-specific responses, and optimizing treatment protocols for broader clinical applications.

Keywords