Can osteoarthritis be treated with light?

Michael R Hamblin

doi:10.1186/ar4354

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is becoming more problematic as the population ages. Recent reports suggest that the benefit of anti-inflammatory drugs is unimpressive and the incidence of side effects is worrying. Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) is an alternative approach with no known side effects and with reports of substantial therapeutic efficacy in osteoarthritis. In this issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy, Alves and colleagues used a rat model of osteoarthritis produced by intra-articular injection of the cartilage-degrading enzyme papain to test 810-nm LLLT. A single application of LLLT produced significant reductions in inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory cytokines 24 hours later. A lower laser power was more effective than a higher laser power. However, more work is necessary before the title question can be answered in the affirmative.

Highlights

Osteoarthritis is becoming more problematic as the population ages
In this issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy, Alves and colleagues [1] reported an interesting preclinical study suggesting that near-infrared light applied to the rat knee has significant benefits on joint inflammation in an animal model of osteoarthritis
Treatment is with analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and COX2 inhibitors (Celebrex, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA), but these therapies have significant risks of adverse effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeding with Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) and myocardial infarction with COX2 inhibitors [3]

Summary

Introduction

Osteoarthritis is becoming more problematic as the population ages. Recent reports suggest that the benefit of anti-inflammatory drugs is unimpressive and the incidence of side effects is worrying. In this issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy, Alves and colleagues [1] reported an interesting preclinical study suggesting that near-infrared light applied to the rat knee has significant benefits on joint inflammation in an animal model of osteoarthritis. Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) is a rapidly growing alternative approach to many medical conditions that require relief from pain

Results

Conclusion