Efficacy of high intensity laser therapy in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind controlled randomized study
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Efficacy of high intensity laser therapy in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind controlled randomized study Mazlum Serdar Akaltun 1
&
Ozlem Altindag 1 & Neytullah Turan 1 & Savas Gursoy 1 & Ali Gur 1
Received: 10 September 2020 / Revised: 13 October 2020 / Accepted: 14 October 2020 # International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) 2020
Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of high intensity laser therapy on pain, functionality, flexion range of motion (FROM), and ultrasonographic cartilage measurement in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods This study was designed as a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Forty patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria were included in the study. After obtaining written informed consent, patients were randomized into high intensity laser therapy (HILT) + exercise therapy (ET), and placebo laser (PL) + ET groups. Each patient was treated five sessions per week for 2 weeks. The outcomes measured were pain level and functional disability using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), respectively. The femoral cartilage thickness measurement was made ultrasonographically, and FROM was measured with goniometry. Results Statistically significant improvements were detected in VAS, WOMAC scores, femoral cartilage thickness, and FROM at the end of the treatment (in week 2) compared to the pre-treatment period in both groups (p < 0.05). There were significant decreases in the VAS and WOMAC scores of both groups in the 6th week compared to the pre-treatment period, and the results of the FROM and femur cartilage thickness measurements were increased at statistically significant levels (p < 0.05). The VAS and WOMAC scores were significantly lower in the 6th week in HILT + ET group compared to the PL + ET group (p < 0.05). Similarly, statistically significant increases were detected in the FROM and femur cartilage thickness measurements in HILT + ET group (p < 0.05). Conclusion HILT + ET combination was more effective in KOA than the PL + ET combination. Key Points • HILT is an effective modality on pain, functional status and FROM in patients with KOA. • HILT is a modality that increases femoral cartilage thickness in patients with KOA.
Keywords Exercise . Femoral cartilage thickness . Knee osteoarthritis . Laser therapy
Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease progressing with cartilage loss and subchondral bone changes [1]. It most commonly affects the knee, and the prevalence of radiographical knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is reported to be
* Mazlum Serdar Akaltun [email protected] 1
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
30% over 50 years of age [2]. The main symptom in KOA is increasing pain with movement, which causes severe disability and decreased quality of
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