%0 Journal Article
%T Long
%A Am¨¦lia Pasqual Marques
%A Jan Magnus Bjordal
%A Jon Joensen
%A Martin B Stausholm
%A Patr¨ªcia Pereira Alfredo
%A Raquel Aparecida Casarotto
%A Rodrigo ¨¢lvaro Brand£¿o Lopes-Martins
%A Washington Steagall Junior
%J Clinical Rehabilitation
%@ 1477-0873
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/0269215517723162
%X To assess the long-term effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), in combination with strengthening exercises in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Follow-up results at three and six months in a previously published randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Specialist Rehabilitation Services. Forty participants of both genders, aged 50¨C75£¿years with knee osteoarthritis grade 2¨C4 on Kellgren¨CLawrence scale. The LLLT group received 10 LLLT treatments with invisible infrared laser (904£¿nm, 3£¿Joules/point) over three£¿weeks followed by an eight-week supervised strengthening exercise program. The placebo LLLT group received identical treatment, but the infrared laser output was disabled. Pain on a visual analogue scale, paracetamol consumption, and osteoarthritis severity measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Lequesne Index. The new data obtained during the follow-up period showed that all outcomes remained stable and there were no significant differences between the groups at three and six£¿months. However, daily consumption of rescue analgesics (paracetamol) was significantly lower in the LLLT group throughout the follow-up period, ending at a group difference of 0.45 vs. 3.40 units (P£¿<£¿0.001) at six£¿months follow-up. We conclude that within the limitations of this small study, the previously reported improvement after LLLT plus exercise was maintained for a period of six£¿months. We find that the immediate post-intervention improvements from LLLT plus strengthening exercises were maintained for six£¿months
%K Osteoarthritis
%K low-level laser therapy
%K exercises
%K knee
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0269215517723162