High-Intensity Laser Therapy: Effectiveness on Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Baskent University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Knee

Treatments: Other: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation; Other: High Intensity Laser Therapy; Other: Hotpacks; Other: SHAM - High Intensity Laser Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06549543

KA22/129

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study is to investigate the additional benefits of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) over conventional physiotherapy, related to pain and function, in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Full description

The study was performed in Baskent University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Unit. 43 patients of both sexes, who were diagnosed clinical and radiographic knee osteoarthritis, with Kellgren Lawrence Grade 2 and 3, were randomly assigned in two groups. Group 1 (n = 21) received TENS, HP, exercises (EX), and High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT; Nd:yag laser, 10W). Group 2 (n = 22) received the same interventions but placebo HILT. All interventions were applied for 10 sessions. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario & McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Questionnaire (WOMAC), and Lequesne Algofunctional Index (LAI) were performed before, after, and at 12-week follow-up.

Enrollment: 43 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• both sexes and age between 40 and 65;
• pain at least 3 months on single or both knees
• diagnosed as KOA with Kellgren Lawrence (KL) Grade 2 or 3 KOA on weight-bearing anteroposterior X-ray images
• normal serum acute phase reactants and uric acid levels
• had no major effusion in the joint.

Exclusion criteria

• therapeutic joint injection in the last 6 months
• physical therapy and/or HILT in the last 3 months
• any surgical invention for the knee joint
• malignancy in the last 5 years.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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43 participants in 2 patient groups

High-Intensity Laser Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

This group (n = 21) received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), hotpack (HP), exercises, and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) for 10 consecutive sessions.

Treatment:

Other: Hotpacks

Other: High Intensity Laser Therapy

Other: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Control

Sham Comparator group

Description:

This group (n = 22) received TENS, HP, exercises, and placebo HILT for 10 consecutive sessions.

Treatment:

Other: SHAM - High Intensity Laser Therapy

Other: Hotpacks

Other: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation