Effects of low-level laser therapy on acupuncture points on knee pain and function in knee osteoarthritis

Objective: Knee osteoarthritis is a common and disabling disease. We aimed to examine the effect of low-level laser therapy in addition to routine physical therapy modalities (transcutaneous electrical stimulation, superficial heating modality of infrared, ultrasound, and exercise) on the functional status and pain in knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis (n=71) who underwent physical therapy (transcutaneous electrical stimulation, infrared, ultrasound, exercise therapy, and low-level laser therapy) were retrospectively screened. Patients who received low-level laser therapy on acupuncture points, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, infrared, ultrasound, and exercise were included in the low-level laser therapy (+) (n=35), and patients who received only transcutaneous electrical stimulation, ultrasound, infrared, and exercise were included in the low-level laser therapy (-) group (n=36).