Background: Chronic non-specific neck pain (CNNP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder known for its significant disability and economic burden, ranking second only to low back pain in musculoskeletal conditions. Physical therapy offers effective interventions for CNNP, including low-level laser therapy (LLLT). High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) is a recent treatment for musculoskeletal pain, but studies that support its use in CNNP are limited. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of high-intensity laser therapy on pain intensity in patients with CNNP, given the existing evidence on LLLT for this condition. Methods: This is a 2-arm, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with blinded evaluators. The research will be carried out in the laboratory of physical agents at the Andrés Bello University, Campus Casona de las Condes. Eligible participants include the entire internal and external community associated with Andrés Bello University suffering from chronic non-specific NP. Participants will be stratified by sex (4 subgroups) and randomized into 2 study groups: group 1 (HILT and stretching exercises) and group 2 (sham HILT and stretching exercises). Treatments will be performed twice a week for 4 weeks with 3 assessments: before treatment (T0), at the end of treatment (T1), and 12 weeks after treatment (follow-up) (T2). The main outcomes will be pain intensity at rest, pain intensity at movement (active cervical movements: flexion, extension, right and left side bending, and right and left rotation), and pain pressure threshold (average obtained for six evaluation points). Secondary outcome measures will include neck range of motion in the sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes and neck disability. Discussion: In this study, HILT’s effects on patients with non-specific NP will be compared to those of a sham laser intervention. This RCT will offer new evidence regarding the potential benefits of HILT in terms of pain intensity, range of movement, and disability in people suffering with non-specific NP. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05689788. January 19, 2023.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the main reason for disability in the world, causing pain and functional loss. Class IV laser is a recent treatment proposed for pain reduction in MSDs, although studies supporting its use and dosage are limited. The purpose of the paper was to describe the efficacy of class IV laser in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain.Methods: Randomized clinical trials were identified in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and ScienceDirect databases by a search on August 31, 2020. Three independent investigators reviewed article titles and abstracts for eligibility. Risk of bias and quality were evaluated with the Cochrane risk of bias tool and PEDro scale. Decreased pain was considered the main outcome; range of motion, strength, or disability were secondary outcomes.Results: A total of 50 articles were obtained after eliminating duplicates, reduced to 7 after selection criteria application. MSDs included patellofemoral dysfunction (n = 1), epicondylitis (n = 1), osteoarthritis (n = 1), cervicalgia (n = 3), and lumbar radiculopathy (n = 1). The studies had a low risk of bias and a PEDro score greater than 7. Pain reduction was observed at the end of laser treatments and in follow-up evaluations (p < 0.005); the decrease in disability favoured laser management (p < 0.005).Conclusions: Class IV laser is effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with MSDs. Further research is necessary to establish a consensus on the dosage and obtain more evidence in MSDs of non-articular origin.

The validation of evaluation instruments such as the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in healthcare education is crucial for precise clinical skills assessments, which are requisites for professional practice. This study aims to validate an OSCE designed specifically for physical therapy students enrolled in the electrophysical agents course. A non-experimental cross-sectional study included 167 fourth-year students (86 men,79 women, average age 21 years ±1.3) at Andres Be