The analgesic effectiveness of laser therapy in patients with gonarthrosis: an evaluation

Background. Osteoarthrosis is a very common disease of the musculo-skeletal system. Laser therapy can be used to alleviate the pain associated with this syndrome, which markedly impinge the patients physical comfort and limit physical activity. Material and methods. The research involved 32 patients (26 women and 6 men, average age 57.3 A+/-12.1 years) with pain complaints in one knee joint and radiologically confirmed degenerative changes. The control group consisted of 32 matched patients awaiting treatment. Laser biostimulation was applied with a semiconductor laser (400 mW, wave length 810 nm). Contact (point) irradiation was applied, with a surface energy density of 12.7 J/cm2. One series of 10 procedures was performed on one knee joint, 5 days a week. Pain intensity was evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and a modified version of the Laitinen questionnaire. Results. In 29 patients (91%) there was a statistically significant reduction in pain complaints in the affected knee measured by VAS. In 19 patients (59%) there was a statistically significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of pain complaints on the Laitinen questionnaire. The improvement in daily motor activity and the reduced use of antalgesic drugs were not statistically significant. Conclusions. Laser biostimulation in patients with knee pain reduces symptoms on the VAS, and significantly reduces the intensity and frequency of pain as assessed by the Laitinen questionnaire. One series of laser treatments has no significant effect on motor activity and use of painkillers in patients with chronic knee pain due to osteoarthrosis.