Evaluation of clinical parameters in knee osteoarthritis patients treated with laser acupuncture versus those exposed to sham laser

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of laser acupuncture in the management of grade 2 knee osteoarthritis, free from any signs of inflammation. Patients and methods Forty patients were randomized into two equal groups to either receive laser treatments three times every week for 4 weeks or exposed to sham laser. Primary outcome measures were pain relief, as measured using Visual Analogue Scale, morning stiffness time, and tenderness score. Cortisol level in plasma was a secondary outcome measure. Results Both groups showed improvement in pain intensity as measured using Visual Analogue Scale, morning stiffness time, and tenderness score just after the end of sessions. Improvement was highly statistically significant in the first group treated with laser. Serum cortisol levels decreased more significantly in the first group after treatment compared with the second group. Conclusion Laser acupuncture is a safe and an effective tool in the management of grade 2 chronic knee osteoarthritis.