Osteoarthritis of the knee joint

The short-term efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy in relieving pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis was examined in a randomized, controlled, single-blind study. The disease is one of the leading causes of knee pain worldwide and results from repeated microtrauma and mechanical stresses that cause inflammation and damage to the joint cartilage.

High intensity laser therapy (HILT) is one of the physical modalities used to treat musculoskeletal pain.

HILT has the ability to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation and promote tissue healing. The study involved 42 patients with knee osteoarthritis who were randomly assigned to the HILT group or the placebo group. Participants received HILT sessions using a special laser device, and the treatment protocol was based on previous studies.

The study showed that HILT can be an effective method for relieving pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

In the control group, participants received artificial laser light applied according to the same protocol as described in the intervention section. During the treatment session, a sound indicating the operation of the MLS machine was triggered to mimic the sound generated by the actual MLS machine. However, the actual laser radiation was not emitted, so participants were not aware of their treatment group assignment. To ensure safety, all participants and physiotherapists wore goggles during the treatment sessions to prevent retinal damage.

Both groups received conservative treatment, including education about knee osteoarthritis, such as weight reduction, exercise and lifestyle modification. Beneficial activities were advised, such as avoiding deep knee bending, low sitting activities and stair climbing. Participants also received a brochure containing basic knowledge about knee osteoarthritis.

All participants received instructions from physiotherapists on how to properly perform the exercises. The exercise program included two types of strengthening quadriceps exercises. To check adherence to the exercise program, participants were given an exercise log and were required to record their daily exercises. Adherence to the exercise program was excellent in both groups. There were also no reported adverse events related to the laser treatment.

The study included 42 participants divided into a HILT group and a control group. The primary outcome was a pain score assessed using a visual assessment scale (VAS), and the secondary outcome was a score on the modified Thai version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (T-WOMAC). Both groups showed statistically significant reductions in VAS and T-WOMAC scores after treatment, with The HILT group showed a greater reduction in VAS score than the control group.

The study's conclusions indicate that HILT is an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis pain, even at a lower dose.

The results of the study may have practical applications in clinical practice, especially in patients who are not surgical candidates or have high risks associated with surgery.

For more information on the study, click here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9616657/pdf/PRM2022-1319165.pdf