Effects of Multi Radiance Medical® Super Pulsed Laser on Chronic Knee Pain

Knee pain is among the most common reasons for musculoskeletal pain consultations, accounting for nearly 4 million primary care visits annually. Knee pain can have different causes such as, tendinopathies, synovitis, bursitis, trauma, etc.

Considering the importance and high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders that affect the knee joint, a variety of therapeutic modalities has been employed to alleviate pain and repair the tissue. Among these conservative treatments, photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been shown to stimulate tendon and ligament healing, and decrease the pain.

Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the Multi Radiance Medical® Super Pulsed Laser, manufactured by Multi Radiance Medical®, for adjunctive use in providing temporary relief of chronic knee pain of musculoskeletal origin.

To achieve the proposed objectives it will be performed a randomized, triple-blind (patients, therapists, outcome assessors), placebo-controlled trial, with voluntary patients with chronic knee pain. Eighty-six patients will be randomly allocated to two treatment groups: 1. Active Multi Radiance Medical® Super Pulsed Laser or Placebo Multi Radiance Medical® Super Pulsed Laser. The patients will be treated by a blinded therapist.

Treatment administration will be performed 3 times a week, for four consecutive weeks, yielding 12 treatments (each treatment administration one to two days apart).

The outcomes will be obtained at the stabilization phase, baseline (pre-procedure), end of treatment and one week after the conclusion of treatment.

The data will be collected by a blinded assessor. The statistical analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principles.

The project was also approved by the Research Ethics Committee from Universidade Nove de Julho, under the number 5.332.202. Board Affiliation: Comissão Nacional de Ética em Pesquisa (CONEP) Phone: +55113385-9010 - Email: comitedeetica@uninove.br Address: Vergueiro nº 235/249. Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The investigators will analyze: degree of pain, levels of prostaglandin E2, subjective knee evaluation, patient satisfaction, blinded efficacy and adverse events.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Signed consent form.
* Aged between 18 and 50 years, inclusive.
* Any gender.
* Subject is fluent in Portuguese.
* The volunteers' presenting primary (dominant) pain is in the region of the right or left knee only. i.e., it is unilateral.
* Self-reported degree of pain rating on the 0-100 VAS pain scale for the target knee is 50 or greater.
* Self-reported degree of pain rating on the 0-100 VAS pain scale for the non-target knee is less than 20.
* Knee pain is episodic chronic, defined as having occurred and recurred over regular or irregular periods or intervals of time, persisting over at least the last 3 months.
* Volunteers' knee pain is of benign musculoskeletal origin wherein the etiology is tendinopathies, synovitis, bursitis, strain, and sprain, of traumatic or non-traumatic origin, as determined by the principal investigator based on any one or combination of the following:
* Prior diagnosis by a qualified licensed medical professional current within the last 2 years evidenced through source documentation.
* Previous Records Review, such as x-ray, MRI, CT scans, etc., where available, that indicate muscle or ligament injury and the absence of Degenerative Joint Disorder (DJD).
* Medical history consistent with one of the etiologies of knee pain falling within the scope of this study.
* Physical examination of the knee that yields one or both of the following findings: Increased pain upon range of motion and/or increased pain and weakness upon knee extension, knee flexion, or gait.
* Subject is willing and able to maintain his or her individualized pain regimen as determined by the study principal investigator at baseline as needed to manage any knee pain that may arise throughout the course of study duration, whilst refraining from consuming other over the counter and/or prescription medication(s) and/or herbal supplements intended for the relief of pain and/or inflammation, and/or partaking in other treatments/therapies.

Exclusion Criteria:

A volunteer who satisfies any one or more of the following criteria will be excluded from study participation:

* The volunteers' presenting primary pain is located outside or in addition to the knee.
* The volunteers' presenting primary pain is bilateral, i.e., equally dominant in the right and left knees.
* Self-reported degree of pain rating on the 0-100 VAS pain scale for the target knee is less than 50.
* Self-reported degree of pain rating on the 0-100 VAS pain scale for the non-target knee is 20 or greater.
* Knee pain is acute, defined as having persisted less than half the time over less than the last 3 months.
* Knee pain is not episodic, such that it has either been continually present without respite over the past 3 months and/or there has not been recurrent episodes within the past 3 months.
* Volunteers' knee pain is of other than, or in addition to, benign musculoskeletal origin wherein the etiology is tendinopathies, synovitis, bursitis, strains, and sprains from traumatic or non-traumatic origin, and/or the etiology of the subject's knee pain cannot be satisfactorily ruled out.
* Prior surgical intervention to the target knee that in the opinion of the principal investigator may affect the study treatment and or outcomes assessment.
* Neurologic deficits that in the opinion of the principal investigator may affect the study treatment and or outcomes assessment.
* Peripheral nerve disease.
* Rheumatoid arthritis.
* Hip or ankle disease.
* Congenital or acquired bony deformity in the ipsilateral lower extremity.
* Secondary orthopedic problems that in the opinion of the principal investigator may affect the study treatment and or outcomes assessment.
* Local corticosteroids and/or botulinum toxin (Botox®) injection for knee pain relief within 30 days prior to study enrollment.
* Treatments such as chiropractic care, and acupuncture within 30 days prior to study enrollment.
* Current, active chronic pain disease, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial cystitis diabetic neuropathic pain,
* Current cancer or treatment for cancer in the past 6 months.
* Significant heart conditions including chronic heart failure (CHF) and implantable heart devices such as a pacemaker.
* Active infection, wound, or other external trauma to the areas to be treated with the PBMT.
* Medical, physical, or other contraindications for, or sensitivity to, light therapy.
* Pregnant, breast feeding, or planning pregnancy prior to the end of study participation.
* Female subject of childbearing age who is unwilling to engage in effective medical contraceptive use while sexually active during the study procedure administration phase.
* Serious mental health illness such as dementia or schizophrenia; psychiatric hospitalization in past two years.
* Developmental disability or cognitive impairment that in the opinion of the principal investigator would preclude adequate comprehension of the informed consent form and/or ability to record the necessary study measurements.
* Any other medical condition or medication use that in the opinion of the principal investigator may affect the study treatment and or outcomes assessment.