These results suggest that LLLT could be an effective therapeutic approach in increasing muscle performance during a resistance exercise protocol.

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da fotobiomodulação associada a exercícios na dor e na funcionalidade de pacientes com osteoartrite de joelho. Para isso foram recrutados 20 pacientes com osteoartrite do joelho uni ou bilateral, que foram distribuídos em dois grupos: grupo-controle (GC), que realizou aplicação de fotobiomodulação (FBM) placebo e um protocolo de exercício; e grupo fotobiomodulação (GF), que realizou aplicação ativa da FBM e o protocolo de exercício, sendo esse realizado duas vezes por semana durante oito semanas e consistindo de alongamentos passivos dos músculos de membros inferiores, straight leg raise, treinamento proprioceptivo e exercícios para o controle da marcha. A FBM foi aplicada com o aparelho cluster contendo quatro diodos de 670 nm e cinco diodos de 850 nm, com uma potência de saída de 540 mW, sendo a dose utilizada de 4 J/cm2. Os grupos foram avaliados pré e pós-tratamento com os questionários SF-36, Lequesne, Tinetti, e por meio da Escala Visual Analógica de dor (EVA). Os dados foram analisados com o método Anova, seguido do Bonferroni. Os dados indicaram melhoras significativas para o GF ao fim do tratamento para as avaliações da EVA (2±1,25 vs. 0,7±0,82; p=0,009). Embora ambos os grupos tenham obtido melhoras significativas ao longo do tratamento, não foi possível observar diferenças significativas entre eles para o restante das avaliações ao final do tratamento. Portanto, conclui-se que o uso da FBM associada a exercícios apresentou melhora da dor nos pacientes com osteoartrite de joelho, embora não tenha sido possível observar diferenças significativas no que diz respeito à funcionalidade.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent rheumatic diseases in the elderly and is associated with pain, stiffness, deformity and progressive loss of function. Physical therapy through kinesiotherapy, proprioceptive exercises and physical agents can improve symptoms related to OA. Objective: The objective of the present clinical trial was to assess the functional performance, pain and muscular strength in patients with knee OA after phototherapy in the quadriceps femoral muscle. Design: The study was a two-armed controlled randomized clinical trial. Setting: The setting for this trial will be a physiotherapy clinic. Participants: The study participants will be those who seek physiotherapy care unit spontaneously after receiving a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis by a medical specialist. Intervention: Participants performed a rehabilitation protocol that consisted of sensorimotor training and muscle strengthening and stretching exercises, for 60 min, three times a week for 12 weeks. In addition to intervention with exercises, the Phototherapy group will receive phototherapeutic applications on the quadriceps femoral muscle while the placebo group will receive sham phototherapy application. Measurements: All patients will be assessed pre-and post-treatment with SF-36 (Short Form 36), WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index), the Berg balance scale, VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), ROM (range of motion) and muscle strength assessment. Conclusion: If phototherapy is beneficial, the results of the study will help in the discussion of treatment guidelines for patients with knee OA focused on functional performance and analgesia combined to exercises and phototherapy. It may also help therapists to make clinical decisions based on high-quality studies.

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Purpose: Longstanding hip and groin pain (LHGP) is a common problem in the physically active population, often limiting the person's ability to participate in daily and physical activities as well as reducing the person's quality of life. These patients are also at high risk of early-onset osteoarthritis. Exercise therapy is a common treatment option for this patient group. Exercises involving lumbo-pelvic control are often included in such programs, although it is unknown whether patients with LHGP have altered lumbo-pelvic control. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate lumbo-pelvic control in patients with LHGP in comparison to healthy matched controls. Methods: 87 patients (50% women, age 18e55) with LHGP (>3 months) and 28 healthy controls, matched for gender, age and activity level, were recruited. Lumbo-pelvic control was assessed with the double-leg lowering test (DLLT) in a supine position and a newly developed test, the standing active single leg raise (SASLR) test. During the DLLT, the hip extension angle () when the pelvis reached 10 anterior tilt was recorded. The mean value of three attempts served as outcome, and a high value is thought to be associated with better lumbo-pelvic control. During the (SASLR), the range of medial to lateral (frontal plane) and anterior to posterior (sagittal plane) pelvic tilt was measured by a tilt sensor attached to the sacrum. The mean range of three repetitions served as outcome, and a lower range is assumed to be associated with better lumbo-pelvic control. The independent sample t-test was performed to assess between-group differences. Results: The patients showed worse lumbo-pelvic control (patients minus controls) in DLLT (mean difference À11.1 (95%CI, À17.2; À5.1) P < 0.001) and in SASLR in frontal plane (mean difference 0.9 (95%CI, 0.03; 1.7) P 0.041), but not in SASLR sagittal plane (mean difference 0.7 (95%CI, À0.6; 1.9) P ! 0.288) compared with controls. Conclusions: The altered lumbo-pelvic control observed in patients with LHGP compared with healthy controls, suggests that exercises of lumbo-pelvic kinematics in both the sagittal and frontal plane should be included in the treatment for this patient group.

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