Efficacy Of Low-Level Laser Therapy On Pain And Disability In Knee Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trials.
Research Summary
This systematic review combined placebo-controlled trials to assess whether low-level laser therapy reduced knee osteoarthritis pain and disability, and whether treatment dose influenced the results.
Who Or What Was Studied?
The analysis included 22 randomised trials involving 1,063 people with knee osteoarthritis. Laser treatment was applied to the knee.
What Did The Research Show?
- Compared with placebo, average pain was lower by 14.23 points on a 0–100 scale immediately after therapy (95% confidence interval: 7.31–21.14). Benefits were also reported at follow-up.
- Disability improved, and trials using recommended doses generally reported larger pain reductions.
Limitations And Interpretation
- Results varied substantially between studies. Follow-up pain analyses covered up to 12 weeks, so sustained long-term benefit is uncertain.
- The review lacked quality-of-life analyses and direct comparisons with other treatments. It does not establish cartilage regeneration or equivalence with home LED panels.
- No adverse events were reported, which does not prove that all protocols are risk-free.
Based on the article’s abstract, results discussion and stated limitations.