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Table 7.3 Light Therapy for the Management of Fatigue Post ABI

by | Dec 12, 2018

Table 7.3 Light Therapy for the Management of Fatigue Post ABI

Author Year

Country

Study Design

Sample Size

 Methods Outcome

Quera Salva et al.,

(2020)

France

RCT

PEDro=7

NInitial=20, NFinal=20

 Population: TBI=20; Intervention Group (Blue-enriched white light therapy, BWL; n=10): Mean Age=34.20±10.73yr; Sex Ratio=2.33; Mean Time Post Injury=7.93±9.99yr; Severity: Mean GCS=5.88±1.55. Control Group (No light therapy, N-BWL; n=10): Mean Age=39±9.81yr; Sex Ratio=1.22; Mean Time Post Injury=10.02±10.71yr; Severity: Mean GCS=6±1.83. Intervention: Participants were randomly allocated to receive light therapy (blue-enriched white light, 30min upon waking for 4wk) or no light therapy. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 2wk, 4wk and 6wk. Outcome Measures: Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS-17), Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). 1.        BWL significantly improved fatigue severity (FSS, p=.026) from baseline to 4wk. (p<.001); however, improvements disappeared at 6wk, 2wk following treatment cessation. 2.        BWL significantly improved measures of depression from baseline to 4wk (HADS17, p=.04). Improvements were maintained at 6wk. 3.        No significant differences in quality of life (SF-12, p>.05), sleep quality (PSQI, p>.05), or daytime sleepiness (ESS, p>.05) were observed between groups.  

Sinclair et al.

(2014)

Australia

RCT

PEDro=6

N=30

Population: TBI=30; Mean Age= 42yr; Male=24, Female=6; Mean Time Post Injury=1106d; Severity: Mild=7, Moderate=8, Severe=15.

Intervention: Participants were randomized to one of three home-based treatment groups: blue light therapy (n=10), yellow light therapy (n=10) or the no treatment control group (n=10). Participants were instructed to use the device for 45min each morning, within 2hr of waking up, for 4wk. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 4wk and 8wk.

Outcome Measure: Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

1.        Compared to the control group, the blue light therapy group showed a significantly greater reduction in fatigue (FSS; p<0.001) and a significant reduction in daytime sleepiness (ESS; p<0.01). However, no significant improvements were observed in the yellow light therapy group when compared to controls.

2.        There was no significant change in PSQI score in any treatment condition (p>0.05).