title: [Clinical observation on acupoint irradiation with combined laser or red light on patients with knee osteoarthritis of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of combined laser on patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one cases with knee OA of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type were randomly divided into a combined laser group (n = 22) and a red light group (n = 19), with combined laser and red light irradiation on Dubi (ST 35) and Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), respectively. They were treated for 6 weeks. The scores of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities' Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC VA3. 1) were used for assessment of therapeutic effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment for 2 weeks and 6 weeks, the WOMAC scores significantly decreased in the two groups as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001). The mean improvement rate of WOMAC scores in the combined laser group was better than those in the red light group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined laser irradiation can improve the pain, stiffness and functional limitation of patients with knee OA of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type.
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Tuina College, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 201203, China. snowysh@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xiu-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xue-Yong
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Li-Zhen
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010789:Phototherapy; D016711:Yang Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*