(1) Background: Knee osteoarthritis causes pain, weakness, muscle atrophy, and disability. The application of whole-body vibration in patients with knee osteoarthritis can improve strength, balance, and functional activities. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of early whole-body vibration intervention in patients after total knee arthroplasty. (2) Method: A single-blinded randomized control trial. Fifty-two patients with knee osteoarthritis post total knee replacement from a medical center in southern Taiwan were randomly assigned to either a whole-body vibration group or control group. Main outcome measures included pain severity, leg circumference, knee range of motion, knee extensor strength, a five-times sit to stand test, and a timed up and go test. (3) Results: Immediately post treatment, the patients in the vibration group showed a significant increase in knee extensor strength and improvement in calf swelling compared to the control group. A trend toward decrease in pain severity and improvement in functional performance were observed in both groups without a significant difference between the groups. There was no significant difference in knee range of motion (ROM) and functional performance between the groups. (4) Conclusions: The whole-body vibration intervention in patients early post total knee arthroplasty showed significant immediate effect in increasing knee extensor strength and decreasing calf swelling.

(1) Background: Musculoskeletal pain is both intractable and irritating. Intravenous Laser Irradiation of Blood (ILIB) therapy has been used as pain control treatment for this condition. However, there remains a lack of clear evidence regarding ILIB on pain control. This study aimed to reveal the result of changes in patient pain intensity after receiving ILIB therapy. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pain scores and sleep quality from 76 patients diagnosed with musculoskeletal disease who received three courses of ILIB therapy. Each course included ten sessions of ILIB treatment over ten consecutive days. During ILIB therapy, patients were inserted with a laser fiber optic needle which irradiated blood cells via a 632.8 nm Helium-Neon laser light over a period of 60 min. Pain scores were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), whereas sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). These scores would be recorded both before and after each ILIB treatment course. (3) Results: The mean of all patients’ initial VAS score was 5.35. After completing three courses of ILIB treatment, the mean VAS score decreased to 2.2, which indicated a significant reduction in pain intensity. Additionally, patients experienced sleep quality improvement levels from PSQI 8.97 to 5.53 upon completion of three courses of ILIB treatment. (4) Conclusions: Intravenous Laser Irradiation of Blood (ILIB) resulted in a positive pain control effect on patients with musculoskeletal disease, especially for those with moderate to severe pain intensity (initial VAS score >4). Additionally, patients experienced better sleep quality as a result of their pain relief after receiving ILIB treatment.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) applying on knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients has shown positive outcomes in analgesic effect and functional recovery. However, few studies applied such therapy on large area of quadriceps muscle in these patients.The aim of this study was to evaluate immediate effect of multi-focal LLLT on quadriceps of knee OA patients in pain and functional performance. Fifty-one participants with knee OA were enrolled and evaluated before (T1) and immediately after intervention (T2) by knee joint pain in numeric rating scale (NRS), walking speed, timed five-chair stands, and quadriceps strength by isokinetic dynamometer. Intervention with two multi-focal Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide laser devices, each device with 36 laser diodes (wavelength 808 ± 10 nm, continuous, mean power 50 mW, 30 minutes), applied simultaneously over bilateral quadriceps with a total dose of 180 J for each thigh. The multi-focal LLLT significantly improved knee joint pain as measured by the NRS (54% reduction), timed five-chair stands, and walking speed (P < .05). Knee extensor strength also increased in terms of peak torque and force of concentric and eccentric contraction as measured by isokinetic dynamometer (P < .05). In conclusion, single-session multi-focal LLLT on quadriceps in knee OA patients has immediate beneficial effect on knee pain reduction, quadriceps strengthening and functional performance recovery. Long-term effect requires further investigation. Multi-focal LLLT on quadriceps might serve as an alternative non-invasive treatment option in these patients. K E Y W O R D Sisokinetic dynamometer, knee osteoarthritis, low level laser, quadriceps