Application of a physiotherapeutic protocol associated with photobiomodulation for the treatment of leprosy patients

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease characterized by acute inflammatory episodes that affect the skin and peripheral nerves and can develop progressive and irreversible disabilities and deformities. In addition, drug therapy and physiotherapy offer resources and techniques capable of mitigating the consequences of neural lesions, but neural lesions can occur before, during, and even after drug treatment. Thus, new treatments are needed. Photobiomodulation (PBM) might be a promissor therapy since it aims to reduce the inflammatory process and restore motor and sensory functions in the affected area. This study aims to compare the evolution of neural status, pain, and functionality in patients with leprosy and neuritis after a physiotherapeutic protocol and PBM treatment. This was a randomized controlled clinical trial that analyzed a group of patients receiving a physiotherapeutic protocol (PPG) and another receiving physiotherapeutic protocol associated with PBM (PLG) (wavelength 904 nm, potency 70 mW, time per point 9 s). Our results showed when evaluating functional capacity limitations with the SALSA scale, the PLG patients improved from moderate to mild limitations. On the other hand, the PPG remained as moderate limitations. Also, the PLG showed a significant reduction in pain on the VAS scale. The neurological assessment showed that PLG improved palpation of the median, radial, and peroneal nerves. In the strength test, PLG patients improved in the 5th finger abduction and ankle dorsiflexion. Assessing sensitivity, it was identified an improvement in PLG for the ulnar nerve and tibial nerve. All those changes were statistically significant when compared to the PPG patients. Finally, the PLG patients improved disabilities, identified by the neurological assessment of the eyes, hands, and feet. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that combining a physiotherapeutic protocol with PBM treatment effectively improved functional status and reduced pain in leprosy patients.