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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01738737

Low-level Laser Therapy and Static Stretching in Knee Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent and disabling disease. It is estimated that by 2030 the prevalence of symptomatic OA could reach 30% of the population above 60 years. It is associated with significant morbidity being one of the most common causes of joint pain, functional disability and compromised quality of life. This randomised controlled trial will investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and static stretching exercises, as monotherapy and in combination, on pain, quality of life, function, mobility, knee range of motion (KROM) and hamstring length in participants with knee OA.

This study will involve 145 people aged 50-75 years with symptomatic radiographic knee OA and will consist of two types of treatments: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and stretching exercises. The patients will be randomly allocated to five study groups LLLT active+Stretch, LLLT placebo+Stretch, Stretch, LLLT and Control (with n=29 each). Treatment frequency will be three sessions/week for all active groups. LLLT will involve the use of a Galium-Arsenide laser (904nm, 40 milliwatts, 3 Joules/point, 27 Joules/knee) over 24 sessions for the monotherapy group and 9 sessions for the LLLT+Stretch groups. Stretching will consist of seven exercises completed over 24 sessions. The control group will receive a booklet.

The primary outcome is pain measured by Visual Analogue Scale. Secondary outcomes included quality of life assessed by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), function by Lequesne Algofunctional Index, mobility by Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), KROM by goniometry of knee flexion and hamstring shortening by popliteal angle. The statistical method will follow the principles of per-protocol analysis.

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Key information

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Osteoarthritis Rheumatic Diseases

Age range

50 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Specialized rehabilitation service

Taboão da Serra, São Paulo, 06775-005, Brazil

About this study

Physical performance as a determinant of disability in osteoarthritis (OA) has been investigated extensively, but research has focused primarily on the effect that the decrease in muscle strength has on the functionality in patients with OA. However, the reduced range of motion in affected joints is also an important risk factor for the occurrence of locomotor disability and other developing disability in patients with OA.

Studies using stretching exercises are scarce in the Reid & Mc Nair (2010) specifically examined the range of motion can be improved in subjects with knee osteoarthritis, although this study did only stretching the hamstrings. The results indicate that there is immediate benefits of stretching in subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee joint, providing evidence for the long term development of stretching programs for this population.

In the literature are observed inconsistent results regarding the benefits of laser treatment in improving pain and function in individuals with knee OA. Also there are few studies that specify which dosage and frequency of laser must be used.

In view of the increasing need to support the role of physiotherapy in evidence-based practice, this study is justified by the need to test the effectiveness of stretching exercises and elucidate the effectiveness of low intensity laser therapy in patients with knee OA.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis between 2-4 in Kellgren & Lawrence classification
  • pain intensity ≥3 on a 10cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
  • knee symptoms for at least 3 months

Exclusion criteria

  • symptomatic hip osteoarthritis
  • any disease where laser treatment is contraindicated (cancer and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus)
  • continuous use of anti-inflammatory drugs
  • other concurrent injury/conditions that will affect their ability to participate in the rehabilitation program and/or assessment procedures.

Treatment and study plan

Active Laser

Device

18 points of application of active laser in the knee (frontal faces, lateral and medial)

Other names: LaserPulse (904nm) class II IBRAMED

Stretching exercises

Other

7 stretching exercises for lower limbs lasting 30 seconds with 4 repetitions

placebo laser therapy

Device

18 points of application of placebo laser in the knee (frontal faces, lateral and medial)

Other names: LaserPulse class II IBRAMED

Primary outcomes

  1. Change From Baseline in Visual Analogue Scale for Pain

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention, up to 11 weeks

    The scale varies from 0 to 10. Higher values represent worse outcomes. The assessment will be done in the patient's first evaluation and after each intervention.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change From Baseline in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention, up to 11 weeks

    The scale varies from 0 to 96. Higher values represent worse outcomes. The assessment will be done in the patient's first evaluation and after each intervention.

  2. Change From Baseline in Range of Motion of Flexion of the Knee

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention, up to 11 weeks

    Higher values represent better outcomes The assessment will be done in the patient's first evaluation and after each intervention.

  3. Change From Baseline in Lequesne Functional Questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention, up to 11 weeks

    The scale varies from 0 to 24. Higher values represent worse outcomes The assessment will be done in the patient's first evaluation and after each intervention.

  4. Change From Baseline in Timed Get Up and Go Test

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention, up to 11 weeks

    Higher values represent worse outcomes The assessment will be done in the patient's first evaluation and after each intervention.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Sao Paulo General Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Low-level Laser Therapy (904 nm) and Static Stretching in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: Randomised Controlled Trial.

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Nov 30, 2012
Registry last updated
Dec 10, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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