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Efficacy of pulsed Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pulsed Nd:YAG laser plus glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate (GCS) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by examining changes in pain and knee function, as well as synovial thickness (ST) and femoral cartilage thickness (FCT). Sixty-seven male patients participated, with a mean (SD) age of 53.85 (4.39) years, weight of 84.01 (4.70) kg, height of 171.51 (3.96) cm, and BMI of 28.56 (1.22). Group 1 was treated with high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), GCS, and exercises (HILT + GCS + EX). Group 2 was treated with GCS plus exercises (GCS + EX), and group 3 received placebo laser plus exercises (PL + EX). The outcomes measured were pain level and functional disability using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), respectively. ST and FCT were measured by ultrasound examination. Statistical analyses were performed to compare differences between baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment and then after 3 months of follow-up. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. VAS and WOMAC were significantly decreased in all groups after 6 weeks, with nonsignificant differences between 6 weeks and 3 months of follow-up. ST was significantly decreased in the HILT + GCS + EX group posttreatment, with nonsignificant decreases in the GCS + EX and PL + EX groups, as well as nonsignificant differences to FCT in all groups. Overall, pulsed Nd:YAG laser combined with GCS and exercises was more effective than GCS + EX and exercises alone in the treatment of KOA patients.

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Change history

  • 10 July 2020

    The institutional affiliation of Dr. Aly Elsayed Mohamed Elsayed should be as follow

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Institute of Scientific Research and Revival of Islamic Heritage at Umm Al-Qura University (project # 43409008) for the financial support. The authors express their appreciation to all subjects who participated in this study with their consent and cooperation and would like to give special thanks to their colleagues at the Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed Salaheldien Mohamed Alayat & Ammar Suliman Mohamed Fadil

  2. Radiology Department, Um Al-Qura University Medical Center, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

    Tarek Helmy Ahmed Aly

  3. Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

    Aly Elsayed Mohamed Elsayed

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  1. Mohamed Salaheldien Mohamed Alayat
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  2. Tarek Helmy Ahmed Aly
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  3. Aly Elsayed Mohamed Elsayed
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Correspondence to Mohamed Salaheldien Mohamed Alayat.

Ethics declarations

The University’s Ethics in Research Committee (Protocol number 43409008), Umm Al-Qura University approved the study. The study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Conflict of interest

The authors received research grants from the Institute of Scientific Research and Revival of Islamic Heritage at Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia (project # 43409008).

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The Institute of Scientific Research and Revival of Islamic Heritage at Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the only institution or organization providing financial support to research works of the faculty members of Umm Al-Qura University. It does not have any investment interest.

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Patients signed a written consent form for study participation and their agreement for publication of the results.

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Alayat, M.S.M., Aly, T.H.A., Elsayed, A.E.M. et al. Efficacy of pulsed Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Lasers Med Sci 32, 503–511 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-017-2141-x

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