Therapeutic Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in Knee Osteoarthritis, Compared to Therapeutic Ultrasound

This study aimed to assess the pain-relieving effects of LLLT, its effect on joint stiffness, and its effect on disability of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The benefits of LLLT were then compared to a more commonly used modality: therapeutic ultrasound (US). Each treatment was administered to each respective group five times per week for two weeks (ten treatments total). What they found was that pain was reduced in all three groups but laser was “superior” in comparison, subjects in the laser group had decreased joint stiffness while the other groups had no improvement in joint stiffness. They concluded that LLLT is the only therapy that reduced pain, joint stiffness, and disability and is superior to placebo and therapeutic ultrasound.