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Efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy in comparison with conventional physiotherapy and exercise therapy on pain and function of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial with 12-week follow up

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Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders causing pain and functional impairment. The purpose of the study is to compare the effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), conventional physical therapy (CPT), and exercise therapy (ET) on pain and function in patients with KOA. The study was designed as an assessor-blind randomized controlled trial. Ninety-three patients (aged between 50 and 75 years) with proved KOA were included and randomly allocated into three groups, and received 12 sessions of HILT, CPT, or ET. The outcomes were pain intensity measured by visual analog scale (VAS), knee flexion range of motion (FROM), timed up and go test (TUG), 6-min walk test (6MWT), and functionality of knee measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) questionnaire. Statistical analyses were done to compare the amounts at the baseline, immediately after treatment and after 12 weeks. HILT was significantly more effective than the other groups in decreasing the VAS, increasing FROM and improving the scores of WOMAC (total and function subscale) both after treatment and after 12 weeks. The effect of HILT and CPT on the TUG, 6MWT, and WOMAC pain subscale was not significantly different after treatment, and both were better than ET. HILT was significantly better than the others after follow-up, particularly more effective on the stiffness subscale of WOMAC. HILT combined with exercise therapy, as a useful therapeutic approach, could have positive influences on KOA patients.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the participants for their valuable time, consent, and excellent cooperation. The authors gratefully acknowledge the valuable help of the academic members and the staff of the Sports Medicine Clinic of Hazrat Rasool Hospital.

Funding

This project was supported by a grant from the Iran University of Medical Sciences (Project # 95-04-30-28639). The Iran University of Medical Sciences is the only organization providing financial support to research works of the faculty members of Iran University of Medical Sciences without any investment interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Medicine, School of Medicine, Hazrat Rasool Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Sattarkhan Ave, Niayesh St, Tehran, 14455613131, Iran

    Ahmad Nazari, Azar Moezy, Parisa Nejati & Ali Mazaherinezhad

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  1. Ahmad Nazari
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  2. Azar Moezy
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  3. Parisa Nejati
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Correspondence to Azar Moezy.

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The Research Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences approved the study (95-04-30-28639) and the study has been performed based on the latest version of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The patients signed a written Persian consent form and announced their agreement to study and for publication of the results with respect to the confidentiality of personal data.

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Nazari, A., Moezy, A., Nejati, P. et al. Efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy in comparison with conventional physiotherapy and exercise therapy on pain and function of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial with 12-week follow up. Lasers Med Sci 34, 505–516 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2624-4

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