Abstract. Clinical experience using Hilterapia in knee arthrosis

S. A. Sabbahi
Energy for Health [03], 2009

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common musculoskeletal disorder in Saudi population. Functional disability “like walking and squatting”, and pain are the most common complaints by OA patients. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of Hilterapia^® against LLL and US in combination with exercises in relieving knee pain, walking distance without pain and squat in patients with knee early osteoarthritis. Thirty subjects with knee early OA , males and females, age between 40 and 72 years, were enrolled. The inclusion criterium was knee/s pain no more than two years, with clinical and radiological confirmation of the diagnosis of OA. Participants were randomly and equally classified into three groups. All participants received exercise program for knee in combination with one of the therapeutic modalities compared (Hilterapia, LLL , US). Participants at group (1) received Hilterapia®, in group (2) received LLL and in group (3) received US therapy. All participants received six treatments for three weeks (two treatments/week). I this study, a marked reduction in chronic pain symptomatology has been observed after Hilterapia^® (pulsed Nd:YAG laser, mod. Hiro 3, ASA s.r.l., Vicenza, Italy) and the postural optimisation has been quantified with optoelectronic systems (Digital Biometry Images Scanning). Several scientific papers have been published about the analgesic and bio stimulating effect of Hilterapia®. Various authors have also highlighted its utility in accelerating the articular recovery process and in promoting ligament lesions healing. From our experience, we can assert that a rehabilitation protocol integrated with Hilterapia^® is extremely effective, and could be considered the gold standard in the treatment of soft tissues pathology as well as in I and II degree chondropathies of the tibiafibulaastragalus region. Equipments used were 3.0 HIRO (ASA S.r.l., Vicenza, Italy), Low level laser (ASA S.r.l., Vicenza, Italy) Ultrasound Unit (Zimmer Medizin System). Evaluation parameters were: perceptive pain using VA S, walking distance without pain (in meters), and squat with/without pain. Measurements were taken pre-treatment and after completion of the six sessions. The results obtained show that: Hilterapia^® was more effective than LLL and therapeutic US in inhibition of pain, increasing walking distance without pain and improvement of ability to squat than LLL in people with early OA. LLL and US had some efficacy, but no differences between LLL and therapeutic US have been observed in inhibition of pain, in increase of the walking distance without pain and improvement of the ability to squat in people with early OA. Therefore, Hilterapia® in combination with exercises can be considered as an effective plan for relieving pain, and improving functions in patients with knee osteoarthrosis.