title: Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy on the muscle architecture and functional capacity in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of low-level laser therapy in combination with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the muscle architecture and functional capacity of elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, evaluator-blinded clinical trial with sequential allocation of patients to three different treatment groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exercise Research Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 elderly females with knee osteoarthritis, 2-4 osteoarthritis degrees, aged 66-75 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomized into one of the following three intervention groups: electrical stimulation group (18-32 minutes of pulsed current, stimulation frequency of 80 Hz, pulse duration of 200 μs and stimulation intensity fixed near the maximal tolerated), laser group (low-level laser therapy dose of 4-6 J per point, six points at the knee joint) or combined group (electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy). All groups underwent a four-week control period (without intervention) followed by an eight-week intervention period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The muscle thickness, pennation angle and fascicle length were assessed by ultrasonography, and the functional capacity was assessed using the 6-minute walk test and the Timed Up and Go Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After intervention, only the electrical stimulation and combined groups exhibited significant increases in the muscle thickness (27%-29%) and pennation angle (24%-34%) values. The three groups exhibited increased performance on the walk test (5%-9%). However, no significant differences in terms of functional improvements were observed between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuromuscular electrical stimulation reduced the deleterious effects of osteoarthritis on the quadriceps structure. Low-level laser therapy did not potentiate the effects of electrical stimulation on the evaluated parameters.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências e Arte do Movimento Humano, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil melo.monica@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Mônica de Oliveira
authors.initials: Mde O
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Klauber Dalcero
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Pompeo
authors.affiliation: Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências e Arte do Movimento Humano, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Auler
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Brodt
authors.affiliation: Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil Federal University of Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre.
authors.forename: Bruno Manfredini
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danton Pereira
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: da Silva Junior
authors.affiliation: Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil Physique Centre of Physical Therapy and Physical Fitness, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
keywords: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; elderly; functional capacity; knee osteoarthritis; low-level laser therapy; vastus lateralis muscle architecture