The ECEALT Chronic Low Back Pain Study

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide with significant socioeconomic impacts. Around 10-15 % of LBP patients develop chronic symptoms lasting more than 3 months, and this is considered chronic, with the causes often being "non-specific" with no identifiable causes. Despite the availability of medication-based protocols, the management of non-specific chronic LBP (NSCLBP) is an increasing challenge to clinicians and their patients. Adjunctive therapy can play an important role in the treatment of NSCLBP. In recent decades, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been widely used to relieve pain caused by different musculoskeletal disorders. Though widely used and reported as a safe, non-invasive treatment with minimal side effects; reported therapeutic outcomes of LLLT are varied and conflicting, due in part to methodological concerns, lack of data and unclear results.