Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Home-Use Photobiomodulation Device for the Treatment of Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Double Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Clinical Study

Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Home-Use Photobiomodulation Device for the Treatment of Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Double Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Clinical Study

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease affecting joint cartilage and its surrounding tissue. It is the leading cause of disability in the elderly. The treatment of this disease remains limited to symptomatic relief and, ultimately, joint replacement. Despite the progress made in understanding the pathophysiology of OA, effective disease-modifying drugs are still lacking.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), also known as Photobiomodulation therapy, is a non-ionizing optical radiation in the visible or near infrared range of the spectrum. LLLI has been used widely for alleviation of pain, reduction of inflammation, and acceleration of wound healing. Specifically, it has been shown to reduce pain in chronic inflammatory related knee pathologies in pre-clinical and clinical studies. However, the recommended treatment protocol requires frequent treatments that translates to frequent visits at the clinic. Such a treatment regimen is difficult for Knee OA (KOA) patients and demanding of the clinical staff. Since the treatment itself can be self-applied easily, a home-use device would enable frequent treatments thereby improving patient adherence to the treatment.

In a pilot study, Kruglova et al [4] reported that 2 weeks of daily treatments with the home use B-Cure laser significantly reduced pain and increased flexibility in 20 elite athletes with KOA.

The purpose of the current study is to determine if B-Cure laser treatments, applied at home, by the patient or personal caregiver in a real-life situation, can reduce pain and improve functionality in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnoses of knee osteoarthritis:( American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria (see below) - possibilities:ACR1: Fulfilled at least one of the classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology ACR2: KOA verified with the American College of Rheumatology criteria using a history and physical examination, i.e. knee pain and at least three of the following: 50-85 years old, ≤ 30 minutes of morning stiffness, crepitus on active range of motion, bony tenderness, bony enlargement, and no palpable warmth of synovia Radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis between 2-3 in Kellgren and Lawrence classification
• KOA grade 2-3
• Knee pain on movement 40 to 90 mm Visual Analog Scale
• Knee pain for the last ≥ 3 months
• Functional reduction in the last three months
• Agrees not to use NSAIDs throughout the experiment
• Agrees not to use any other treatment (except rescue drugs) for KOA during participation in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other causes of knee-related pain (e.g. hip OA, arterial insufficiency, etc) have been ruled out by physical examinations
• Knee surgery for KOA
• Intra-articular steroid injection and/or oral steroid treatment within the last six months
• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• Symptomatic OA in other joints (i.e. hip, hand)
• Use of analgesics on the day of evaluation
• Use of NSAIDs 2 weeks before the beginning of the treatment
• Active malignancy
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• Neurological conditions: sciatica, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis
• Other chronic pain conditions: Fibromyalgia, back pain, hip pain
• Enrolled in any other clinical trial within the last 6 weeks or enrollment in another clinical trial during participation in this trial.