title: SHORT-TERM EFFICACY OF LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: A RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL TRIAL.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate the short-term efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for improving pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients with knee osteoarthritis (79 knees), of both genders, participated in this randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial. They were randomly allocated to two groups: laser group with 25 patients (41 knees) and placebo group with 22 patients (38 knees). LLLT was performed three times a week, totaling nine sessions, using a AsGa 904 nm laser with mean power of 60 mW and beam area of 0.5 cm(2). Nine points were irradiated on the knee, with energy of 3.0 J/point. The placebo group was treated with the same laser device, but with a sealed probe. Evaluations using Lequesne, visual numerical scale (VNS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), goniometry and dynamometry were conducted before the treatment started and after the nine sessions of LLLT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant improvement in pain and function was found in all the assessments applied to the laser group. On comparing the laser group with the placebo group, significant differences were found in the VNS-resting and Lequesne evaluations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with LLLT improves pain and function over the short term in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: MSc in Health Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia (ISCMSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Ovanessian
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Physiotherapy Sector, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericòrdia (ISCMSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Yukio
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Physiotherapy Sector, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericòrdia (ISCMSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Physiotherapy Sector, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericòrdia (ISCMSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiwa
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Physiotherapy Sector, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericòrdia (ISCMSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca Del Cor
authors.initials: Bdel C
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Álvaro Brandão Lopes
authors.initials: RÁ
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Physiotherapy Sector, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Aparecida
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Casarotto
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Student in Experimental Physiopathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Pereira
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Alfredo
authors.affiliation: Titular Professor, Physiotherapy Sector, Bergen University, Norway.
authors.forename: Jan Magnus
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bjordal
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Postgraduate Program on Health Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericòrdia (ISCMSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Maria Moraes Barros
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fucs
keywords: Exercise Therapy; Knee; Laser Therapy; Low-Level; Osteoarthritis