Can Combined Ultrasound and Laser Therapy Potentiate the Treatment of a Symptomatic Osteoarthritis? A Case Report

Abstract

Osteoarthritis of the knee (KOA) is a chronic degenerative musculoskeletal disease associated with functional disability and chronic pain. Currently, physical modalities, such as ultrasound and Laser therapies, are usually prescribed in rehabilitation scenarios as an adjunctive treatment of symptomatic KOA. These therapies have demonstrated great potential to reduce pain and improve the functional capacity of patients with this disease. Thus, the purpose of this case report was to show the effects of prototype equipment specially developed to perform the combined application of therapeutic ultrasound and laser therapy in the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. The present case reports the use of a prototype of equipment developed to perform the combined application of ultrasound and laser therapy. A 63-year-old woman with KOA for 12 years with painful complaints and worsening of functional capacity was submitted to 12 sessions using the prototype. After treatment, she observed a 95% reduction in pain and a decrease in the WOMAC questionnaire indexes related to pain, morning stiffness, and disability. In addition, to a 50% improvement in the sit and put test. Like this, a single case study shows the efficacy of the combined US and laser therapy on pain and function in the treatment of the symptomatic KOA. The results analyzed, as well as the patient's report make it possible to show the effectiveness in the conjugated treatment and the new equipment.