Abstract
Objectives:
To determine the effects of low-level laser therapy in combination with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the muscle architecture and functional capacity of elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Design:
A randomized, evaluator-blinded clinical trial with sequential allocation of patients to three different treatment groups.
Setting:
Exercise Research Laboratory.
Subjects:
A total of 45 elderly females with knee osteoarthritis, 2-4 osteoarthritis degrees, aged 66–75 years.
Intervention:
Participants were randomized into one of the following three intervention groups: electrical stimulation group (18–32 minutes of pulsed current, stimulation frequency of 80 Hz, pulse duration of 200 μs and stimulation intensity fixed near the maximal tolerated), laser group (low-level laser therapy dose of 4–6 J per point, six points at the knee joint) or combined group (electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy). All groups underwent a four-week control period (without intervention) followed by an eight-week intervention period.
Main measures:
The muscle thickness, pennation angle and fascicle length were assessed by ultrasonography, and the functional capacity was assessed using the 6-minute walk test and the Timed Up and Go Test.
Results:
After intervention, only the electrical stimulation and combined groups exhibited significant increases in the muscle thickness (27%–29%) and pennation angle (24%–34%) values. The three groups exhibited increased performance on the walk test (5%–9%). However, no significant differences in terms of functional improvements were observed between the groups.
Conclusions:
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation reduced the deleterious effects of osteoarthritis on the quadriceps structure. Low-level laser therapy did not potentiate the effects of electrical stimulation on the evaluated parameters.
Keywords
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