ArticleHong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liao2019
Effects of combination therapy and infrared radiation on pain, physical function, and quality of life in subjects with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled study.
Article in Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liao, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Characterization and critical appraisal of physiotherapy intervention research in Nigeria: a systematic review.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Pooled it
- Local hyperthermia therapy for the pain management of knee osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.EFORT open reviews · 2026Article
- Osteoarthritis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.MedComm · 2026Review
- Efficacy of Tuina in patients with knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Design and evaluation of an exergame system to assist knee disorders patients' rehabilitation based on gesture interaction.Health information science and systems · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundKnee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common degenerative articular disease that causes disability and poor quality of life (QoL) of the individuals. Electrotherapeutic agents such as therapeutic ultrasound (US), interferential current (IFC), and infrared radiation are used in the treatment. It is not clear which of these agents is the best in improving these variables.
objectiveThe study aimed to compare the effects of the combined application of US and IFC therapies and infrared radiation on pain, functional activities, and QoL in people with KOA.
methodsIn a randomized controlled study, 60 participants were randomized into two groups, the combination therapy group (CTG) and the infrared radiation group (IRG). Each group received 15-min treatment three times per week for 12 weeks. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) for functional activities and the Short Form Health Survey questionnaire for QoL.
resultsParticipants in the CTG had a significant
conclusionThe results of this study support the use of the combination of IFC and US therapies to reduce pain and improve function and QoL for KOA patients.
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Registered trials
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