Evaluating the Effectiveness of Using a Home Laser Device to Treat Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Barzilai Medical Center50 enrolled

Overview

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease affecting joint cartilage and its surrounding tissue. It is the leading cause of disability in the elderly. Photobiomodulation (PBM), has been used widely for alleviation of pain, reduction of inflammation, and acceleration of wound healing, and particularly to treat knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The purpose of the current study is to determine if a near-infrared PBM device (B-Cure Laser), applied at home, by the patient or personal caregiver in a real-life situation, can reduce pain and improve functionality in patients with KOA.

This is a prospective double blind randomized sham-controlled clinical trial. Eligible participants with KOA will be randomly allocated to receive active or sham devices for self-treatment at home in addition to standard care. Patients will be invited to the clinic for 3 visits: baseline, 1 month, and 3 months. Evaluations will include physical examination, range of motion, and patient reported outcomes including subjective pain level by visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and quality of life questionnaire (SF-12). Participants will document treatments and analgesic-drug use in a diary. The study hypothesis is that B-Cure laser treatments, applied at home by the patient, can reduce pain and improve functionality compared to standard care alone.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Osteoarthritis Of Knee

Interventions

B-Cure laser proDEVICE

The B-Cure laser pro is a portal, non-invasive, photobiomodulation device, that emits light in the near infrared (808nm) over an area of 1X4.5 cm2 with power output of 250mW, and energy dose of 1J/cm2.

ShamDEVICE

The sham device is externally identical to active, emits the same guiding light and sound but does not emit the therapeutic near infrared invisible rays

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 50 YearsMax age: 90 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnoses of knee osteoarthritis by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2. Kellgren \& Lawrence classification 1-3 3. Knee pain on movement 40 to 90 mm Visual Analog Scale 4. Knee pain and related functional reduction for at least 1 month Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant or nursing, or with the ability to become pregnant and not using an accepted form of birth control 2. Other causes of knee-related pain (e.g. hip OA, arterial insufficiency, radiculopathy etc) have been ruled out by physical examinations. 3. Knee surgery for KOA 4. Intra-articular steroid injection and/or oral steroid treatment within the last six months 5. Rheumatoid arthritis 6. Symptomatic OA in other joints (i.e. hip, hand) 7. Use of narcotics on the day of evaluation 8. Active malignancy 9. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus 10. Neurological conditions: sciatica, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis 11. Other chronic pain conditions that may affect results: Fibromyalgia, back pain, hip pain 12. Has any photobiomodulation (low level laser) device at home or has previously used photobiomodulation for knee pain 13. Has known dermatological sensitivity to light 14. Enrolled in any other clinical trial within the last 6 weeks or enrollment in another clinical trial during participation in this trial.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change from baseline in level of pain by VAS

Subject assessment of pain will be evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), were 0 is "no pain" and 100 is "intolerable pain".

Time frame: 1month

Secondary Outcomes

Change from baseline in WOMAC score

The WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) is a disease-specific self-administered questionnaire used to assess the severity of symptoms and functional limitations in individuals with hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA). It consists of 24 items, each scored on a scale of 0-4. Higher scores indicate worse pain, stiffness, and functional limitations.

Time frame: 1 month