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    • The Evidence for MLS® Laser Therapy:

      Musculoskeletal Pain

    •  

      Last updated: August 2026

      MLS® laser therapy reduced chronic low back pain by 76% (VAS 7.66→1.86) in a randomised controlled trial of 30 patients — significantly outperforming a structured exercise program (p=0.001) (Arefi et al., 2025).

      Across five published studies covering chronic low back pain, chronic neck pain, subacromial shoulder pain, and tendinopathy, MLS® has consistently outperformed comparison treatments or placebo, spanning two randomised controlled trials, one comparative clinical study, one case series, and one preclinical mechanistic study.

    • Quick summary

       

      Condition Design n Key result
      Chronic low back pain Randomised controlled trial 30 VAS 7.66→1.86 vs. 7.73→5.60 with exercise (p=0.001)
      Chronic neck pain Randomised, placebo-controlled trial 75 VAS Δ6.68 vs. 5.72 (LLLT) vs. 4.84 (placebo)
      Subacromial shoulder pain Comparative clinical study 47 SPADI improvement significantly greater than TENS/ultrasound (p=0.004)
      Tendinopathy (knee, shoulder, ankle, foot) Case series 17 VAS reduced 56.9% (6.58→3.0)
      Experimentally induced tendinopathy (sheep) Preclinical 6 Improved collagen organization, reduced inflammation by day 30
      How to read this evidence

      The studies below are grouped by design, from strongest (randomised controlled trials) to supporting (case series and preclinical models). Randomised trials with a control or placebo arm give the most reliable estimate of effect; comparative studies without randomization and uncontrolled case series establish real-world outcomes but carry more risk of bias. We’ve labelled each accordingly so you can weigh the evidence the way a clinician should.

    • Does MLS® laser reduce chronic low back and neck pain?

      Randomised controlled trials

      Chronic low back pain. In a randomised, double-blind trial of 30 patients with chronic non-mechanical low back pain (3+ months of symptoms), 15 patients received 12 sessions of MLS® laser therapy over 6 weeks while 15 received a structured exercise program. Pain (VAS) fell from 7.66±1.11 to 1.86±0.74 in the MLS® group, compared with 7.73±1.16 to 5.60±1.35 in the exercise group — a significantly greater reduction with MLS® (p=0.001). Nerve-conduction studies (EMG/NCS) also normalised in 86.7% of the MLS® group versus 13.3% of the exercise group post-treatment (p=0.0001), and sensory testing (pin-prick and light-touch indices) improved significantly more with MLS®.

      Source: Arefi S, Saidian SR, Mokhtari M, Eliaspour D. “MLS Laser Reduce Pain in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.” Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. 2025;15(1):e158778. DOI: 10.5812/aapm-158778 · PMID: 40452959 · Read the full study.

      Chronic neck pain. In a randomised, placebo-controlled trial of 75 patients with chronic neck pain, participants were assigned to MLS® laser plus exercise (25 patients), low-level laser therapy plus exercise (25 patients), or placebo laser plus exercise (25 patients), all receiving 12 sessions over 6 weeks. The MLS® group showed the greatest reduction in pain (VAS, Δ6.68) and disability (Neck Disability Index, Δ39.84), significantly outperforming both the LLLT group (ΔVAS 5.72, ΔNDI 37.88) and the placebo group (ΔVAS 4.84, ΔNDI 36.68), with effect sizes for MLS® versus placebo rated large for both pain (Cohen’s d=2.22) and function (Cohen’s d=2.63).

      Source: Alayat MS, Elsoudany AM, Ali ME. “Efficacy of Multiwave Locked System Laser on Pain and Function in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2017;35(8):450-455. DOI: 10.1089/pho.2017.4292

    • Is MLS® laser effective for shoulder pain?

      Comparative clinical study

      Subacromial pain syndrome (shoulder). In a comparative clinical study of 47 patients with subacromial pain syndrome (calcified tendinitis or adhesive capsulitis, symptoms 3+ months), 22 patients received 10 sessions of MLS® laser plus exercise while 25 received TENS plus ultrasound plus exercise, both over 3 weeks. At 15-day follow-up, the MLS® group had significantly better pain scores (VAS, p=0.03) and disability scores (SPADI, p=0.04) than the TENS/ultrasound group, with a significantly greater improvement in SPADI overall (p=0.004). Both groups improved substantially on the Constant-Murley Shoulder Score, with no significant between-group difference on that measure.

      Source: Sirbu E, Onofrei RR, Hoinoiu T, Petroman R. “The Short-Term Outcomes of Multiwave Locked System (MLS) Laser Therapy versus a Combination of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation and Ultrasound Treatment for Subacromial Pain Syndrome.” Applied Sciences. 2021;11(5):2273. DOI: 10.3390/app11052273.  Read the article

    • Does MLS® laser help with tendinopathy pain?

      Case series

      Tendinopathies (knee, shoulder, ankle, foot). In a case series of 17 patients with symptomatic tendinopathies across the knee (pes anserine, patellar), shoulder (acromioclavicular, supraspinatus, biceps), ankle (Achilles), and foot (extensor tendons, tibialis posterior), treatment with MLS® laser (roughly 8 sessions, 3 times weekly) reduced the overall mean VAS pain score by 56.9% (6.58±2 to 3±2.4). Roughly 70% of patients showed concrete symptom improvement, with the knee subgroup reaching statistical significance (p<0.005); no adverse events were reported.

      Source: Vignali L, Caruso G, Gervasi S, Cialdai F. “MLS® Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Patients Affected by Tendinopathies.” Energy for Health, [16]. Read the full study (PDF)

    • What’s the tissue-level mechanism behind MLS® laser’s effect on tendinopathy?

      Preclinical mechanistic evidence

      Experimentally induced tendinopathy (sheep model). In a controlled pilot study using six sheep with collagenase-induced tendon lesions (treated hindlimb vs. untreated control hindlimb in each animal), 10 sessions of MLS® laser therapy at a dose below 5 J/cm² produced a significant anti-inflammatory effect, reduced fibroblast count and vessel area toward normal, and improved collagen fiber organization in the deep digital flexor tendon by day 30 — supporting a direct tissue-healing mechanism behind the clinical pain reductions seen above.

      Source: Iacopetti I, Perazzi A, Maniero V, Martinello T, Patruno M, Glazar M, Busetto R. “Effect of MLS® Laser Therapy with Different Dose Regimes for the Treatment of Experimentally Induced Tendinopathy in Sheep: Pilot Study.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2015;33(3):154-163. DOI: 10.1089/pho.2014.3775 · PMID: 25751667

    • This page summarises independently published research on MLS® laser therapy for musculoskeletal pain. It is provided for clinical and educational reference and does not replace individualised clinical judgment. Heal with Laser is the exclusive distributor of ASA Laser MLS® technology in Australia and New Zealand.