High Intensity Laser Therapy in hand osteoarthritis: a mixed protocol's proposal

Viliani T., Pasquetti P.
Energy for Health, [08] 2011

Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is a common chronic condition involving one or more joints of the thumb and fingers. Therapeutic approach in hand osteoarthritis must consider local interventions which are useful along the course of the pathology. Laser-therapy (Low Level Laser Therapy- LLL T-) is a possible useful instrumental therapy. High Intensity Laser Therapy (HIL T) seems to be more effective than LLL T in pain and disability management of some forms of osteoarthritis, due to its higher intensity and to the depth reached by the laser ray. HIL T may be used also in laser-acupuncture. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of HIL T in patients with symptomatic HOA, using a mixed protocol, analgesic anti-inflammatory protocol plus laser-acupuncture. 18 out-patients with symptomatic HOA (II -III Kellgren-Lawrence Grading Index) were enrolled and evaluated by Australian Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCA N) and Visual-Analogue Scale (VAS), before treatment (t0), after treatment (t1) and after 3 months (t2). The patients were treated with a mixed HIL T protocol, analgesic plus laseracupuncture treatment (4 sessions, once a week). The patients showed a mean statistically significant improvement between t0 and t1 in AUSCA N Index and VAS, and improvement was found in 83% of the subjects (15/18). The improvement was mostly maintained at follow-up. The mixed HIL T protocol showed good results in a great percentage of HOA patients, with only 4 treatment sessions. We conclude that this kind of HILT protocol could be a good proposal for pain control and for improvement of patient’s quality of life.