Efficacy of loe level laser therapy in the management of chronic knee osteoarthritis a randomized control trial

Abstract

quotOsteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common joint disease in the elderly and is associated with significant physical disability. Low level laser therapy is used as an interventional tool in many musculo-skeletal problems related with joint disease. But due to inconsistency of literature studies about the effectiveness of LASER in the OA knee, there is a need for the physiotherapist to know the optimal therapeutic effects of LASER in chronic OA knee patients. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the effectiveness of low level laser therapy in combination with exercise in the long term to reduce pain, improve range of motion (ROM) functionality and activity in an osteoarthritis knee population. newlineMethodology: The study was done in two phases. newlinePhase 1 of the study was a cross cultural adaptation, where an analysis was about the translation of WOMAC and Lequesne questionnaire was done in Guajarati languages. The phase 2 of the study was an interventional study comparing the effect of LASER therapy and exercise with placebo LASER therapy and exercise in management of OA knee patients. Total 224 subjects with chronic osteoarthritis of the knee were selected for the study, age-matched and divided into 2 equal groups of 112 subjects in each groups. One group received laser therapy and exercise and the second group received placebo laser therapy and exercise. Laser therapy was performed twice a week for 6 weeks. Measurements of pain, knee range of motion, WOMAC and Lequesne Questionnaire were taken at the baseline, after 6 weeks of intervention and another 6 weeks of no interventions. newlineResults: The results of the study concluded that Low-level Laser therapy combined with exercise is more beneficial than placebo Laser and exercise in the long term of chronic OA knee patients.quot newline