PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to compare a 975-nm, 500-mW GaAlAs low-level laser therapy versus placebo low-level laser therapy with regard to the immediate changes on the myofascial trigger point of the dominant upper trapezius muscle in subjects with rounded shoulder posture. METHODS: Thirty-two male college students with rounded shoulder posture and shoulder pain consented to participate in the experiment. The subjects were randomly assigned to a 2-minute procedure with either an active GaAlAs low-level laser or a placebo GaAlAs low-level laser. The pressure-pain threshold and visual analog scale on tenderness at 3 kg were measured with an algometer before and after the laser treatments. RESULTS: The active GaAlAs low-level laser group showed significant changes in pressure-pain threshold and visual analog scale on tenderness at 3 kg (p<0.05). The placebo GaAlAs low-level laser group showed no significant changes in either pressure-pain threshold or visual analog scale on tenderness at 3 kg (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: An immediate effect was observed in pressure-pain threshold and visual analog scale on tenderness at 3 kg following a 2-minute application ($857.14J/cm^2$) of a 975-nm, 500-mW GaAlAs low-level laser to the myofascial trigger point of the dominant upper trapezius muscle in patients with rounded shoulder posture.