Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Low-level Laser.

Marco Aurélio Vaz, PhD

Status: Completed

Conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis

Treatments: Other: Laser Therapy; Other: Electrical Stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02067871

UFRGS - 20160

Details and patient eligibility

About

• The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of low-level laser therapy in combination with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on neuromuscular (muscular strength and morphology) and functional parameters (pain and functional tests) in elderly with knee osteoarthritis.
• The hypothesis is that the association of low-level laser therapy with neuromuscular electrical stimulation could reduce joint pain associated with the inflammation and consequently potentiates the effects of electrical stimulation on the muscular system.

Full description

• Participants was randomized into one of three intervention groups (intervention period = 8 weeks after a 4 weeks control period in all groups).
• Electrical stimulation group (18-32 min of pulsed current, stimulation frequency of 80Hz (Hertz), pulse duration of 200μs and stimulation intensity fixed near to maximal tolerated),
• Laser group (low-level laser therapy dose of 4-6J (Joules) per point, six points at the knee joint)
• Combined group (electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy).

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 60 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• elderly.
• symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.
• radiographic diagnostic of Grade 2 or 3 knee osteoarthritis.

Exclusion criteria

• a body mass index higher than 40 Kg/m2.
• a diagnosis of hip, ankle, or toe osteoarthritis.
• the use of crutches for locomotion.
• participation in a strength-training programme or physiotherapy treatment for knee osteoarthritis in the past six months.
• neurological or cognitive disorders.
• rheumatoid arthritis.
• electronic implants.
• previous or upcoming surgery (within three months).
• any cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular, or metabolic disease that could represent an absolute contraindication or a contraindication to the performance of maximum strength tests.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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44 participants in 3 patient groups

Electrical stimulation

Experimental group

Description:

* 18-32 min of pulsed current. * stimulation frequency of 80Hz (hertz). * pulse duration of 200μs (microseconds). * stimulation intensity fixed near to maximal tolerated.

Treatment:

Other: Electrical Stimulation

Laser Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

* λ = 810 nm (nanometers) * continuous wave * 200 mW (milliwatts) output power * low-level laser therapy dose of 4-6J (Joules) per point * six points at the knee joint

Treatment:

Other: Laser Therapy

Combined Treatment

Experimental group

Description:

Electrical Stimulation: * 18-32 min of pulsed current, * stimulation frequency of 80Hz (hertz). * pulse duration of 200μs (microseconds). * stimulation intensity fixed near to maximal tolerated. and Laser Therapy: * λ = 810 nm (nanometers) * continuous wave * 200 mW (milliwatts) output power * low-level laser therapy dose of 4-6J (Joules) per point. * six points at the knee joint.

Treatment:

Other: Electrical Stimulation

Other: Laser Therapy