Use of Acupuncture in combination with MLS^® Laser Therapy in aged dogs with osteoarthritis: three clinical cases

F. Romano
Energy For Health [22], 2022

Introduction
Osteoarthritis in dogs is a slowly progressive inflammatory chronic disease, characterized by degeneration of the cartilage, hypertrophy of margins of the bones and changes in the synovial membrane. These alterations can cause decreased flexibility, lameness, stiffness and pain.
Conventional treatments of osteoarthritis involve nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, chondroprotectors and other complementary medications (i.e. gabapentin and amantadine). Pain management is the main goal of medical treatments, in order to improve the quality of life in old patients. Chronic conventional treatments could affect the patient health condition. Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and MLS® laser therapy, are considered good options for the treatment of osteoarthritis in these patients.
Multiwave Locked System (MLS®) laser therapy has been clinically advised for treatment of several pathologies, including neuropathic pain and musculoskeletal diseases.
It involves the use of two different and synchronized emissions. The average power of the device is 1.1 W with pulsed emission of 25 W.
Studies demonstrated that MLS® therapy, in combination with pharmacological therapies, is able to improve general clinical condition of dogs affected of osteoarthritis.
Acupuncture belongs to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC) and consists in stimulating specific points on the surface of the body (acupoints).
The mechanism of action of acupuncture is complex and includes local mechanical effects and the modulation of peripheral and central nervous system pain signaling pathways. Acupuncture has been shown to activate afferent nerve fibers and regulate signaling molecules, such as endogenous opioids, to mitigate pain.
This article is intended to share a previous experience in using MLS® laser therapy in combination with acupuncture in the treatment of pain of three aged dogs with osteoarthritis.
The purpose was to manage pain reducing or stopping pharmacological therapies and to improve physical and psychological quality of life of these dogs.