Comparison of the effect of Laser Therapy and Therapeutic Ultrasound in the Management of Chronic Osteoarthritic Knee Pain: A Randomised Controlled Trail
Abstract
Objective: This randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate and compare the therapeutic efficacy of Low Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Therapeutic Ultrasound (TUS) in the symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritis.Methods: Twenty two subjects with chronic osteoarthritis of the knee were recruited, aged-matched and grouped into 3 (control, LLLT & TUS) groups. The control group received 18 sessions of standardized protocol care of exercise therapy (low intensity for 15 minutes and 3 times per week for 6 weeks). The LLLT and TUS groups, in addition to the standardized exercise therapy protocol received 18 LLLT (Laser class 3b, frequency of 5KHz, wave length of 810nm) treatments for 10 minutes and 18 TUS sessions (continuous, intensity: 0.5W/cm2, frequency: 1MHz) for 12 minutes respectively. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure knee pain and knee joint range of motion (ROM) was also assessed. Data was analyzed using ANOVA test to determine groups' significant difference.
Results: Findings of the study revealed no significant contribution of LLLT and TUS over control (exercise) in VAS and ROM at p< 0.05.
Conclusions: The study affirms and concluded that exercise therapy should form the basis and bulk adjunct physical therapy in the management of osteoarthritis over Laser therapy and TUS.
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