title: Randomized controlled trial on low level laser therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low level laser therapy (LLLT) offers promising symptomatic relief of osteoarthritic (OA) pain. We examined efficacy of active LLLT versus sham LLLT on finger joints and three superficial nerves.
  
  
  METHODS
  OA-patients randomly assigned, received three treatments per week for 6 weeks of LLLT (n = 42) or sham LLLT (n = 46).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain relief, morning stiffness, and functional status did not significantly improve for LLLT versus placebo. No significant differences were found in finger range of motion, except carpometacarpal opposition (P = 0.011), grip strength, and patient global assessment which improved for active LLLT participants (P = 0.041).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LLLT is no better than placebo at reducing pain, morning stiffness, or improving functional status for OA-hand patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada. Lucie.Brosseau@uottawa.ca
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brosseau
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gaboury
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casimiro
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yonge
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tugwell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000535:Aluminum; D001152:Arsenicals; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005708:Gallium; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D005708:Gallium; D000535:Aluminum