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Low-level laser therapy in meniscal pathology: a double-blinded placebo-controlled trial

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Abstract

We performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study (ISRCTN24203769) to assess the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with meniscal pathology, including only symptomatic patients with tiny focus of grade 3 attenuation (seen only on 0.7 thickness sequences) or intrasubstance tears with spot of grade 3 signal intensity approaching the articular surface. None of the patients in the study group underwent arthroscopy or new magnetic resonance imaging investigation. Paired-samples t test was used to detect significant changes in subjective knee pain over the experimental period within groups, and ANOVA was used to detect any significant differences between the two groups. Pain was significantly improved for the LLLT group than for the placebo group (F = 154, p < 0.0001). Pain scores were significantly better after LLLT. Four (12.5 %) patients did not respond to LLLT. At baseline, the average Lysholm score was 77 ± 4.6 for the LLLT group and 77.2 ± 2.6 for the placebo group (p > 0.05). Four weeks after LLLT or placebo therapy, the laser group reported an average Lysholm score of 82.5 ± 4.6, and the placebo group scored 79.0 ± 1.9. At 6 months, the laser group had an average Lysholm score of 82.2 ± 5.7, and after 1 year, they scored 81.6 ± 6.6 (F = 14.82923, p = 0.002). Treatment with LLLT was associated with a significant decrease of symptoms compared to the placebo group: it should be considered in patients with meniscal tears who do not wish to undergo surgery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Track & Field Centre, Sports Injury Clinic, Sports Medicine Clinic of S.E.G.A.S., Thessaloniki, Greece

    Nikolaos Malliaropoulos, Olga Kiritsi, Kostantinos Tsitas & Dimitris Christodoulou

  2. Thessaloniki Sports Medicine Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Nikolaos Malliaropoulos, Dimitris Christodoulou & A. Akritidou

  3. James Paget University Hospital, NHS Foundaton Trust, Great Yarmouth, UK

    Olga Kiritsi

  4. Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Biomedico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Rome, Italy

    Angelo Del Buono

  5. Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry Institute of Health Sciences Education Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine Mile End Hospital, 275 Bancroft Road, London, E1 4DG, UK

    Nicola Maffulli

Authors
  1. Nikolaos Malliaropoulos
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  2. Olga Kiritsi
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  3. Kostantinos Tsitas
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  4. Dimitris Christodoulou
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  5. A. Akritidou
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  6. Angelo Del Buono
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  7. Nicola Maffulli
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Correspondence to Nicola Maffulli.

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Malliaropoulos, N., Kiritsi, O., Tsitas, K. et al. Low-level laser therapy in meniscal pathology: a double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Lasers Med Sci 28, 1183–1188 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-012-1219-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-012-1219-8

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