Immediate responses of multi‐focal low level laser therapy on quadriceps in knee osteoarthritis patients

Abstract

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

The effects of low-level laser therapy on muscle strength and functional outcomes in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial

“…Laser radiation can directly project to muscle cells and significantly increase the ATP synthesis activities of mitochondria and can stimulate cytochrome oxidase enhancements to mitochondria activity and aerobic capacity, in turn facilitating power generation in muscle fibers 18,19 . The findings from this study are in agreement with previous studies where a focal LLLT was applied directly to either the joint line 20,21 or the quadriceps muscles 22 . www.nature.com/scientificreports/…”

Effect of low-level laser therapy on quadriceps and foot muscle fatigue in children with spastic diplegia: a randomized controlled study

“…After 1-month follow-up using low-level therapy in group A, it was observed that the visual analog scale showed that there is a decrease in the level of and were evaluated before treatment and after 1 month and the child performs the exercises much easier comparing to group B. In agreement of our results, there was a study in 2019 demonstrated that low-level laser therapy when applied to the quadriceps muscle was effective in reducing knee joint pain, increasing muscle power, and consequently improving walking speed [ 19 ].…”

Comparing the effectiveness of ultrasound guidedversusblind genicular nerve block on pain, muscle strength with isokinetic device, physical function and quality of life in chronic knee osteoarthritis: a prospective randomized controlled study

“…Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases among elderly individuals, and knee joints are the most affected joints [ 1 , 2 ]. Pain, joint stiffness, and decreased muscle strength can be seen, and cause poor quality of life and poor functional capacity [ 3 ].…”