Evaluation of the efficacy of gallium-aluminum-arsenide laser acupuncture in the management of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background/aim Knee osteoarthritis is a common degenerative disease affecting the joint, causing progressive loss of cartilage and inflammation. Its main symptoms are pain and stiffness. Medications such as NSAIDs have little benefit and are usually accompanied by serious adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of laser acupuncture in the management of stage 2 or 3 knee osteoarthritis. Patients and methods The study was carried out on 30 patients (24 females and six males) diagnosed as having stage 2 or 3 knee osteoarthritis. The patients were recruited from the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clinic at the Medical Centre of Excellence, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. The patients were subjected to low-power laser (gallium-aluminum-arsenide 905 nm) with touch sensor guide light, power output of 100 mill watts, beam area of 1 cm2, 1-min irradiation time, frequency 10 000 Hz, duty cycle 100%, total energy per point 6 J, energy density 6 J/cm2, and irradiance 0.1 W/cm2, for 3 days/week for a duration of 4 weeks (12 session), directed at various acupuncture points (ST 35, ST 36, Sp 9, Sp 10, GB 34, Sp 6, and liv3). Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed before and after laser therapy. Results Pain on visual analog scale, number of tender points, tenderness score, angle of knee flexion, heel to hip distance, Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scale score, and Lequesne Index showed significant improvement after treatment (P<0.05). Timed up and go test result was decreased after laser sessions, but its improvement was insignificant statistically. Significant improvement and increase of enkephalin and immunoglobulin (IL-4) were recorded after treatment. Conclusion Laser acupuncture showed efficacy in the management of stage 2 or 3 knee osteoarthritis.