Stručni rad
Analgesic Effect of High Intensity Laser Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis
Nives Štiglić-Rogoznica
Doris Stamenković
Ljubinka Frlan-Vrgoč
Viviana Avancini-Dobrović
Tea Schnurrer-Luke Vrbanić
Sažetak
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), the most common type of osteoarthritis (OA), is associated with pain and inflammation of
the joint capsule, impaired muscular stabilization, reduced range of motion and functional disability. High-intensity laser
therapy (HILT) involves higher-intensity laser radiation and causes minor and slow light absorption by chromophores.
Light stimulation of the deep structures, due to high intensity laser therapy, activates cell metabolism through
photochemical effect. The transmissions of pain stimulus are slowed down and result in a quick achievement of pain relief.
The aim of our research was to investigate the prompt analgesic effect of HILT on patients with KOA. Knee radiographs
were performed on all patients and consequently graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale (K/L). A
group of 96 patients (75 female, 21 male, mean age 59.2) with K/L 2 and 3 were submitted to HILT therapy. Pain intensity
was evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after the treatment. HILT consisted in one daily application,
over a period of ten days, using protocol wavelength, frequency and duration. The results showed statistically significant
decrease in VAS after the treatment (p<0.001). Considering these results, HILT enables prompt analgesic effects
in KOA treatment. Therefore HILT is a reliable option in KOA physical therapy.
Ključne riječi
knee osteoarthritis; laser therapy; analgesia
Hrčak ID:
72262
URI
Datum izdavanja:
25.9.2011.
Posjeta: 3.572 *