Neck and Shoulder Pain Research Study

• presenting primary pain is located in the region of the neck (right side and/or left side and/or the back of the neck) and/or the shoulder (right side and/or left side);
• neck and/or shoulder pain is of benign musculoskeletal origin wherein the etiology is sprain strain and/or muscle spasms;
• neck/shoulder pain is episodic chronic, defined as having occurred and recurred over regular or irregular periods or intervals of time, persisting over at least the last 3 months;
• self-reported Degree of Pain rating on the 0-100 VAS pain scale for the neck-shoulder region is 50 or greater;
• subject is willing and able to maintain his or her current pre-study neck/shoulder pain management regimen of pain relief medication and/or treatment/therapy use throughout the course of study duration, whilst refraining from consuming other types of medication and/or prescription medication(s) and/or herbal supplements intended for the relief of pain and/or inflammation, including muscle relaxants, and/or partaking in other treatments/therapies including conventional therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and hot or cold packs, as well as alternative therapies such as chiropractic care and acupuncture.

Exclusion Criteria:

• subject's presenting primary pain is located outside or in addition to the region of the neck (right side and/or left side and/or the back of the neck) and/or the shoulder (right side and/or left side);
• subject's neck and/or shoulder pain is of other than, or in addition to, benign musculoskeletal origin wherein the etiology is sprain strain and/or muscle spasms, and/or the etiology of the subject's neck/shoulder pain cannot be satisfactorily ruled out as one or more;
• neck/shoulder pain is acute, defined as having persisted over less than the last 3 months;
• neck/shoulder pain is not episodic, such that it has either been continually present without respite over the past 3 months and/or there has not been recurrent episodes within the past 3 months;
• self-reported Degree of Pain rating on the 0-100 VAS pain scale for the neck-shoulder region is less than 50;
• local corticosteroids and/or botulinum toxin (Botox®) injection for neck/shoulder pain relief within the prior 30 days;
• such as chiropractic care and acupuncture;
• current, active chronic pain disease: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial cystitis diabetic neuropathic pain;
• cancer or treatment for cancer in the past 6 months, including tumors of the spinal cord, diabetes Type 1, significant heart conditions including coronary heart failure and implantable heart devices such as a pacemaker, active infection, wound or other external trauma to the areas to be treated with the laser, surgery to the neck and/or shoulder region in the past 12 months;
• medical, physical, or other contraindications for, or sensitivity to, light therapy;
• pregnant, breast feeding, or planning pregnancy prior to the end of study participation, serious mental health illness such as dementia or schizophrenia; psychiatric hospitalization in past two years;
• developmental disability or cognitive impairment that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude adequate comprehension of the informed consent form and/or ability to record the necessary study measurements;
• involvement in litigation and/or receiving disability benefits related in any way to the parameters of the study;
• subject is less than 18 years of age;
• participation in a clinical study or other type of research in the past 30 days.