Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Improving Nerve Function in Common Peroneal Neuropathy: Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Common peroneal nerve (CPN) is the most common mononeuropathy encountered in lower limb often resulting in foot drop. CPN Injuries have a variety of traumatic and non-traumatic aetiologies. Trauma-related injuries include musculoskeletal or orthopedic damage, while non-traumatic causes involve neurological disorders and compressive pathologies. Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on Nerve Conduction Velocity, Muscle Strength and Ankle-foot Disability Index in individuals with CPN injuries. Methodology: The present study was a Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial in nature in which the effect of PBMT was observed. A total of 14 participants diagnosed with foot drop was randomly allocated into two independent groups that is Group A (Experimental Group) and Group B (Control Group). Results: The mean FADI scores for Group A improved from 50.0 ± 15.48 (Day 0) to 57.43 ± 17.39 (Day 14) (p > 0.05), while Group B improved from 39.86 ± 15.27 to 44.14 ± 16.18 (p > 0.05), showing no significant intragroup changes. Between-group comparisons at Day 14 also showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). Dorsiflexor strength increased from 1.15 ± 0.62 to 1.66 ± 1.05 in Group A and from 0.86 ± 0.71 to 1.16 ± 0.70 in Group B (p > 0.05). MNCV in Group A increased from 31.96 ± 19.91 to 38.31 ± 19.61 (p > 0.05). Overall, clinical improvements were observed but not statistically significant. Conclusion: The study found greater improvement with PBMT plus conventional physiotherapy compared to physiotherapy alone, though results were clinically non-significant. This is the first study to assess PBMT in CPN injury. Future research with larger samples and longer durations is recommended.