Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 124–5
Stellate ganglion blocks are an effective treatment of upper extremity pain, but are invasive and involve a significant risk of morbidity. Linearly polarised red light is promoted as a safe alternative to this procedure, but its effects are poorly established. The purpose of this study was to: (1) to assess the physiological effects of this approach in normal subjects and people with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) 1 and (2) to quantify the presence, intensity and duration of its benefits.
This study involved two phases. In the first phase, six adults (ages 18–60 years) with normal neurological examinations underwent transcutaneous irradiation of the right stellate ganglion with a linearly polarised 0.6–1.6 μm Iodine lamp (480 s; probe diameter 0.7 cm; duty cycle 1s on, 4s off; ‘on’ beam intensity 3.90 W/cm2). The second phase involved a double-blinded evaluation of 12 subjects (ages 18–72 years): six with CRPS 1 of an upper extremity and six ‘neurologically normal’ age and gender-matched controls. At their first session, subjects and their controls were randomised to receive either active (as described above) or placebo irradiation. Assignments were reversed a week later. Upper extremity temperatures as well as sudomotor and vasomotor function were assessed before treatment and for 30-min following irradiation. Analgesic benefits were assessed over the same period as well as one week following treatment.
Phase one: Subjects could not detect the beam. There were no adverse consequences. Phase two: Data collection is complete for five of six CRPS–control subject pairs. Data collection and analysis will be concluded prior to the conference.
Irradiation is well tolerated. Physiological effects and treatment benefit will be discussed.
