High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Conventional Physiotherapy, High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT), Sham High-Intensity Laser Therapy.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA). Basic parameters: 40 years — 75 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Assessment of the Effectiveness of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Overview
This randomized placebo-controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) as an adjunct to standard outpatient physiotherapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Seventy-two participants will be randomly assigned to receive either conventional physiotherapy combined with active HILT or conventional physiotherapy combined with sham HILT. Outcomes related to pain, knee function, physical performance, muscle strength, range of motion, psychosocial factors, quality of life and body composition will be assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and at 8-week follow-up.
Detailed description
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of pain and disability among older adults. Although physiotherapy constitutes a cornerstone of conservative management, the clinical effectiveness of High-Intensity Laser Therapy remains uncertain due to methodological heterogeneity of available studies. This prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial will evaluate whether HILT provides additional benefits when combined with standard physiotherapy.
Participants aged 40-75 years with radiographically confirmed mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis and pain intensity of at least 4 points on the Visual Analogue Scale will be enrolled. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio using block randomization. The intervention period will last two weeks. Both groups will receive the same physiotherapy programme consisting of aerobic, strengthening, balance, proprioceptive, stretching, gait and functional exercises. The experimental group will receive active HILT, whereas the control group will receive sham HILT.
Assessments will be performed at baseline, immediately after treatment and 8 weeks after treatment completion.
Interventions
- Behavioral Conventional Physiotherapy
Participants will receive a standardized outpatient physiotherapy programme delivered five times per week for two consecutive weeks. Each session will include aerobic exercise on a stationary bicycle, strengthening exercises, balance and proprioceptive training, functional exercises, stretching exercises, postural exercises, and gait training. The physiotherapy programme will be identical in both study groups. - Device High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT)
Participants will receive High-Intensity Laser Therapy using the ASA Laser HIRO 3.0 device (3 kW). Treatment will be administered three times per week for two consecutive weeks, resulting in six treatment sessions. Laser irradiation will be delivered in pulsed mode at a frequency of 20 Hz with a total energy dose of 3000 J per session. The laser will be applied using a dynamic scanning technique over the anterior, medial, and lateral aspects of the affected knee joint and selected periarticular - Device Sham High-Intensity Laser Therapy
o Participants will undergo a sham High-Intensity Laser Therapy procedure using the same ASA Laser HIRO 3.0 device and treatment schedule as the active intervention group. The handpiece will be positioned and moved over the treatment area in the same manner as during active treatment; however, no therapeutic laser energy will be delivered. The device will not emit laser radiation, light signals, or audible treatment sounds. Session frequency, duration, therapist-patient interaction, and treatmen
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain Subscale Score [Time frame: Baseline, immediately after the 2-week intervention, and 8 weeks after completion of treatment.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Radiographically confirmed knee osteoarthritis
- Mild-to-moderate disease severity
- Pain ≥4 on VAS for at least 3 months
- Ability to participate in physiotherapy
- Informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- Advanced OA requiring surgery
- Previous knee arthroplasty
- Knee instability
- Acute inflammation
- Neurological disorders affecting gait
- Neuropathies or myopathies
- Active inflammatory arthritis
- Recent lower-limb injury (<6 months)
- Intra-articular injections within 3 months
- Cancer, pregnancy, epilepsy
- Electronic implants or pacemaker
- Active local infection
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07661407 · 41/03/2026