High Intensity Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser in painful knee osteoarthritis: the biostimulating protocol

T. Viliani, C. Carabba, G. Mangone, P. Pasquetti
Energy for Health [09], 2012

Laser therapy is a widely used instrumental methodology in the physiotherapy treatment of osteoarthritis pain. High Intensity Laser Therapy (HIL T, Nd:YAG laser) in last years proved to be effective in painful Knee Osteoarthritis (KO), due to its high intensity and to the depth reached by the laser ray. Several HIL T protocols are available to treat this condition, in relation to the phase of the disease and to the clinical data of the patient.
Aim of this study was to analyze the clinical efficacy and the safety of HILT, using a biostimulating protocol in patients with symptomatic KO.
34 out-patients with symptomatic KO (II - III Kellgren-Lowrence Scale stage) were enrolled and randomized to treatment (16 patients, Group A) or to waiting list (18 patients, Group B). The study is an open-label, before and after study. The treatment consisted in HILT biostimulating treatment (10 sessions, three time a week) for Group A and no treatment for Group B. The patients were assessed by WO MAC Scale, before treatment (t0), after treatment (t1) and after 4 months (t2). At the same time intervals were assessed the patients in the waiting list.
HIL T-treated patients showed a highly statistically significant improvement between t0 and t1 in WO MAC scale, and the improvement was maintained at follow-up (t2), while the patients in the waiting list showed a worsening tendency.
No side effect was found in the treated group.
The HILT treated patients showed good clinical results, in pain and functional items. We conclude that this HIL T protocol seems a good medical instrument for pain control in KO and for improvement of patient’s quality of life.