Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41042410›Full record

Trial reportClinical rheumatology2025

Comparison of the effects of high-intensity laser therapy and low-level laser therapy in knee osteoarthritis.

Sıdıka Büyükvural Şen, Burhan Fatih Koçyiğit, Emine Aygül Ortaç, Meryem Kösehasanoğulları, Nilüfer Aygün Bilecik

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Clinical rheumatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
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

5 authors.

Sıdıka Büyükvural ŞenDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, 01060, Yüregir, Turkey. sbuyukvuralsen@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1084-4226
Burhan Fatih KoçyiğitDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, 01060, Yüregir, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6065-8002
Emine Aygül OrtaçDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, 01060, Yüregir, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0999-1053
Meryem KösehasanoğullarıDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, 01060, Yüregir, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5893-0823
Nilüfer Aygün BilecikDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, 01060, Yüregir, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5113-2287

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate and compare the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on clinical parameters and ultrasonographic cartilage measurements in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

methodsThis study was designed as a double-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Ninety patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology were included. Following the acquisition of written informed consent, the patients were randomized into two treatment groups: HILT combined with exercise therapy (ET) and LLLT combined with ET. Each patient underwent five sessions of therapy per week for a duration of 2 weeks. Pain and functional disability levels were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Ultrasonographic measurement of femoral cartilage thickness was performed. Knee range of motion (ROM) in flexion was measured using goniometry.

resultsIn both groups, statistically significant improvements were observed in VAS and WOMAC scores, femoral cartilage thickness, and flexion ROM at the end of treatment (at weeks 2 and 6) compared to the pre-treatment period (p < 0.05). VAS and WOMAC scores at week 6 were significantly lower in the HILT + ET group compared to the LLLT + ET group (p < 0.05). Similarly, statistically significant increases in flexion ROM measurements were identified in the HILT + ET group compared to the LLLT + ET group (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in femoral cartilage thickness measurements.

conclusionBoth HILT and LLLT, when combined with ET, were found to be effective in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. However, HILT provided more pronounced improvements in pain, functionality, and flexion ROM. No difference was detected between the two methods in terms of cartilage thickness.

Indexed as

Laser TherapyLow-Level Light TherapyOsteoarthritis, KneeAgedCartilage, ArticularDouble-Blind MethodExercise TherapyFemaleHumansKnee JointMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementProspective StudiesRange of Motion, ArticularTreatment OutcomeCartilage thicknessDisability evaluationHigh-intensity laser therapiesKnee osteoarthritisLow-level laser therapies

Identifiers

PMID41042410

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.