Low Power Laser and Exercise in Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Condition: Osteoarthritis
MeSH terms: Osteoarthritis
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2

Summary: 
      Indroduction: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful condition causing disability, weakness
      and poor quality of live. The results are very consistent about the benefits of laser and
      exercises to improve pain and function in subjects with knee osteoarthritis Objectives: To
      investigate the effects of Low Power Laser (LBP) associated with exercise in pain, function,
      range of motion, muscle strength and quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

      Methods: Forty patients of both sexes aged between 50 and 75 years with knee osteoarthritis
      (grade 2-4) were randomized into two groups: Laser-LBP-active dose of 3J more exercises and
      Group Placebo-LBP- placebo and exercise. Were evaluated for pain, function, range of motion,
      muscle strength and quality of life on three occasions: before starting treatment (evaluation
      1), 3 weeks after laser application (evaluation 2) and 8 weeks after completion of exercise
      (evaluation 3). There were 33 physical therapy sessions three times a week, on March 1 and
      the laser was applied in the other, only the exercises.
    

Detailed description: 
      Pain: Pain intensity was measured with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) which is a straight 10
      cm long devoid of numbers, in which there is only an indication of the extreme left of "no
      pain" and extreme right to "unbearable pain". The higher the score, the greater the pain.

      Feature: Survey conducted by Lequesne, which is an index composed of 11 questions about pain,
      discomfort and function. The scores range from 0 to 24 (without affecting the extremely
      severe, respectively), the higher the score, the greater the impairment.

      Range of motion (ROM): ADM flexion and knee extension was measured using a universal
      goniometer (AESCULAP) with the patient prone second methodology Marques.

      Muscular Strength: To assess the maximal isometric strength of the quadriceps muscle was used
      Dynamometer model Lafayette ® Portable (USA), while seated at 60 ° of knee flexion and this
      gradation was controlled with a goniometer. Patients remained seated on the stretcher and
      held steady with thigh extension strength, the dynamometer being maintained in the distal
      leg. Three measurements were taken, and the mean value.

      Quality of Life: The Questionnaire was used Western Ontario and McMaster Universities
      Osteoarthritis (WOMAC)a self-assessment that evaluates pain, stiffness and physical activity.
      The higher the score, the greater the impact of OA on quality of life.
    

Intervention name(s): Laser; Placebo Laser
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): 3-week treatment with three Laser sessions per week; 3-week treatment with three Placebo Laser sessions per week
Other intervention name(s): LOW POWER LASER; PLACEBO LOW POWER LASER
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Osteoarthritis; Low Power Laser Therapy; Exercise; Knee