Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Basic Science

Background: Obesity is a condition of abnormal excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissue. Overweight/obesity is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and costs. Greater demand in body aesthetic medicine for noninvasive procedures has motivated researchers to develop new techniques to replace traditional treatments for body contouring. through liposuction and other modalities like cold laser and ultrasound cavitation. Purpose: This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of cold laser versus ultra-sound Cavitation on fat thickness layer of abdomen measured by ultra-sonography. Subjects: Forty patients aged from 25-35 years and BMI (25-29.9) were assigned randomly into 2 equal groups: Group (A) received ultra-sound cavitation. Group (B) received cold laser therapy (632.8nm-16J/cm2). The modalities were applied for 30 min, twice weekly for 12 weeks in both groups. Both groups received the same diet program throughout the treatment period. Assessment was carried out for body weight using weight scale, waist/hip ratio using stretch resistant tape and fat thickness layer of abdominal region using ultra-sonography before and after treatment. Results: showed that there was a significant reduction of body weight, waist/hip ratio and abdominal fat thickness below the umbilicus after treatment in both groups and a significant reduction of abdominal fat thickness above umbilicus in group A only. Comparison between post treatment values of waist/hip ratio and abdominal fat thickness above and below the umbilicus showed significant difference between both groups with favorable results for group A. Conclusion: cold laser therapy and ultra sound cavitation is an effective physical therapy modality in treatment of abdominal obesity by reducing body weight, waist/hip ratio and abdominal fat thickness

Issued also as CD