Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36922781›Full record

Trial reportBMC geriatrics2023

Laser therapy versus pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as treatment modalities for early knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

Michal Elboim-Gabyzon, Fouad Nahhas

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldFull text readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC geriatrics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.8field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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.

NCT07402291 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Comparative Effects of Mulligan's Pain Release Phenomenon and Kaltenborn Mobilizations on Pain, Range of Motion And Disability in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

TypeinterventionalSponsorRiphah International UniversityRan2025 to 2025Enrolled44ConditionsKnee OsteoarthritisArmsMulligan's pain release phenomenon, Kaltenborn mobilization with traction
NCT07438392 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Tecar Therapy (Targeted Radiofrequency Therapy) on Pain, Physical Function, and Physical Capacity in Patients With Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorKirsehir Ahi Evran UniversitesiRan2026 to 2026Enrolled60ConditionsOsteearthritisArmsTecar Therapy, ShamTecar Therapy, conventional physical therapy
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Michal Elboim-GabyzonPhysical Therapy Department, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, 188 Hushi Abba Boulevard, 3498837, Haifa, Israel. michal.elboim@gmail.com.
Fouad NahhasPhysical Therapy Department, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, 188 Hushi Abba Boulevard, 3498837, Haifa, Israel.
University of Haifa · IL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on pain and physical function of participants with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

methodsAccording to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification, participants with grade 2-3 KOA were randomized to receive PEMFT or LLLT for six sessions lasting 15 min/session over a 3-week period. Pain at rest and when walking, standing from a sitting position, and climbing the stairs was assessed using the visual analog scale. Functional level was measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), timed up-and-go test (TUG), and 10-m walk (10 MW) test. Measurements were obtained before and after the interventions. Significance was determined at p ≤ 0.05.

resultsForty participants were included in the study. Pain and physical function improved significantly (p < 0.0001) in both groups. PEMFT was significantly more effective in reducing pain at rest, when standing from a sitting position, and when climbing the stairs, and in improving both WOMAC scores and TUG results (p ≤ 0.0003). The improvements in pain during the activities and the WOMAC scores reached the minimal clinically important difference. No adverse events occurred.

conclusionSix sessions of PEMFT and LLLT had immediate positive effects on pain and physical function in individuals with low-grade KOA, with PEMFT resulting in significantly better results.

trial registrationISRCTN registry trial ID: ISRCTN17001174.

Indexed as

Laser TherapyLow-Level Light TherapyOsteoarthritis, KneeElectromagnetic FieldsHumansPainTreatment OutcomeFunctionKnee osteoarthritisLow-level laser therapyPainPulsed electromagnetic field therapy

Identifiers

PMID36922781
PMCPMC10018856
OpenAlexW4327682051

What OpenQuestion holds

Textfull text, public
LicenceCC BY
measurements read8
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.