Comparison between Low-Level and High-Intensity Laser Therapy as an Adjunctive Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Low-level (LLLT) and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) can be beneficial additions to knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rehabilitation exercises; however, it is still being determined which electrophysical agent is more effective. AIM: To compare the effects of LLLT and HILT as adjuncts to rehabilitation exercises (LL + EX and HL + EX) on clinical outcomes in KOA. METHODS: Thirty-four adults with mild-to-moderate KOA were randomly allocated to either LL + EX or HL + EX (n = 17 each). Both groups underwent their respective intervention weekly for twelve weeks: LL + EX (400 mW, 830 nm, 10 to 12 J/cm2, and 400 J per session) or HL + EX (5 W, 1064 nm, 19 to 150 J/cm2, and 3190 J per session). The laser probe was placed vertically in contact with the knee and moved in a slow-scan manner on the antero-medial/lateral sides of the knee joint. Participants' Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), active knee flexion, and Timed Up-and-Go test (TUG) were assessed. RESULTS: Post intervention, both groups showed improvements in their KOOS, NPRS, active knee flexion, and TUG scores compared to baseline (p < 0.01). The mean difference of change in KOOS, NPRS, and active knee flexion scores for the HL + EX group surpassed the minimal clinically important difference threshold. In contrast, the LL + EX group only demonstrated clinical significance for the NPRS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating HILT as an adjunct to usual KOA rehabilitation led to significantly higher improvements in pain, physical function, and knee-related disability compared to LLLT applied in scanning mode.

Effects of Self-management Program as Adjunctive to Usual Rehabilitation Exercise on Pain and Functional Outcomes in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Home-based exercise (HBE) and patient education (EDU) have been reported as beneficial additions to usual knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rehabilitation. However, previous trials mostly examined the effects of HBE and EDU separately. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of a structured combined HBE and EDU program in addition to usual KOA rehabilitation on pain score, functional mobility, and disability level. STUDY DESIGN: A parallel-group, single-blinded randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Eighty adults with KOA were randomly allocated to experimental (n=40) and control (n=40) groups. All participants underwent their usual physiotherapy care weekly for eight weeks. The experimental group received a structured HBE+EDU program to their usual care, while the control group performed home stretching exercises to equate treatment time. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for the disability level, visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and timed up-and-go test (TUG) for mobility were measured pre-post intervention. RESULTS: After eight weeks, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in the KOOS (all subscales), pain VAS, and TUG scores compared to baseline (P<0.001); meanwhile, only KOOS (activities of daily living and sports subscales) was significant in the control group. Relative to the control, the experimental group presented higher improvements (P<0.001) by 22.2%, 44.1%, and 15.7% for KOOS, pain VAS, and TUG, respectively. CONCLUSION: Integrating the HBE+EDU program into usual KOA rehabilitation could reduce pain and disability, while it improved functional mobility. The finding of this study suggests a combination of a structured HBE and EDU program to be considered as part of mainstream KOA management.

Effects of low-level and high-intensity laser therapy as adjunctive to rehabilitation exercise on pain, stiffness and function in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: When treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA), rehabilitation exercise is often combined with low-level (LLLT) or high-intensity laser therapy (HILT). However, the effectiveness of these combinations is still uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of LLLT or HILT combined with rehabilitation exercise (LLLT+E or HILT+E) on pain, stiffness and function in KOA. DATA SOURCES: Five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, PEDro and SPORTDiscus) were searched for relevant studies published up to 31 December 2019. STUDY SELECTION: KOA randomised controlled trials, LLLT+E or HILT+E against exercise alone with or without placebo laser, reported clinical outcomes, human studies and English language. DATA SYNTHESIS: Methodological quality was assessed by the PEDro and Cochrane risk-of-bias scales, and the meta-analysis was undertaken using RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: Of the 10 retrieved studies, six investigated LLLT+E, three on HILT+E, and one evaluated both. All the studies had high PEDro scores. However, as most of the studies employed a single type of laser therapy, only indirect comparison of LLLT+E and HILT+E was possible. This study found all treatment modalities were effective in reducing KOA symptoms. Interestingly, relative to control, the meta-analysis showed significant improvements in knee pain, stiffness and function for the HILT+E. CONCLUSION: Both LLLT and HILT are beneficial as adjuncts to rehabilitation exercise in the management of KOA. Based on an indirect comparison, the HILT+E seems to have higher efficacy in reducing knee pain and stiffness, and in increasing function. To confirm this finding, a direct comparative investigation of the two types of laser therapy may be necessary. Systematic review registration PROSPERO ID CRD42020206228.

Virtual Reality Games as an Adjunct in Improving Upper Limb Function and General Health among Stroke Survivors.

Virtual reality (VR) games has the potential to improve patient outcomes in stroke rehabilitation. However, there is limited information on VR games as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy in improving upper limb function. This study involved 36 participants in both experimental (n = 18) and control (n = 18) groups with a mean age (SD) of 57 (8.20) and 63 (10.54) years, respectively. Outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer assessment for upper extremities (FMA-UE), Wolf motor function test (WMFT), intrinsic motivation inventory (IMI), Lawton of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and stroke impact scale (SIS) assessed at pre-post intervention. The experimental group had 0.5 h of upper limb (UL) VR games with 1.5 h of standard physiotherapy, and the control group received 2 h of standard physiotherapy. The intervention for both groups was performed once a week for eight consecutive weeks. The results showed a significant time-group interaction effect for IMI (p = 0.001), Lawton IADL (p = 0.01) and SIS domain of communication (p = 0.03). A significant time effect was found in FMA-UE (p = 0.001), WMFT (p = 0.001), Lawton IADL (p = 0.01), and SIS domains; strength, ADL and stroke recovery (p < 0.05). These results indicated an improvement in UL motor ability, sensory function, instrumental ADL, and quality of life in both groups after eight weeks of intervention. However, no significant (p > 0.05) group effect on all the outcome measures was demonstrated. Thus, replacing a portion of standard physiotherapy time with VR games was equally effective in improving UL function and general health compared to receiving only standard physiotherapy among stroke survivors.