Low Level Laser Therapy in meniscal pathology

Low Level Laser Therapy in meniscal pathology: a double-blinded placebo controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN24203769

Enrollment

Registered

2012-04-25

Start date

2009-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-11-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Patients with knee pain related to meniscal pathology Musculoskeletal Diseases Other meniscus derangements

Interventions

Patients were randomly assigned to receive LLLT (n=32) twice per week for the first three weeks, and once per week for the next three weeks (giving a total of 9 sessions), or identical placebo therapy

the frequency of the pulse was 2400 ?z [anti-inflammatory frequency) and 700Hz (Healing frequency). The spot area was almost 1 cm2 over the meniscal area, with a power density of 0.24W/cm2. Each patie

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. We included patients with unilateral medial knee pain for more than six weeks. 2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) inclusion criteria: 2.1. Tiny tears seen only on 0.7 thickness sequences. 2.2. Intrasubstance tears (with spot of Grade 3 SI approaching the articular surface) osteochondral lesions

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Patients with bilateral or lateral knee pain 2. History of major knee trauma or knee surgery 3. Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis 4. Hemophilia 5. Amyloidosis 6. Seronegative arthritis 7. Psoriasis or gout 8. MRI Exclusion criteria 8.1 Meniscal tears seen on classic protocols 8.2. Chondromalacia 8.3. SONK Lesions/insufficiency fractures 8.4. Stress fractures

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. The subjective knee pain of the 64 symptomatic patients was assessed at baseline and after therapy using a subjective-based 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 100 (maximal pain) [17]. The pain decreased approximately by 65% four weeks after LLLT 2. Participants were also asked to complete the Lysholm Knee Scoring System (LKS) [18], a knee specific questionnaire evaluating pain, function, and swelling of the knee at baseline and after therapy. Four weeks after LLLT the laser group reported an an increase (improvement) in Lysholm score of [82.5 ± 4.6; range, 77-94)	—

Measure

Time frame

1. The subjective knee pain of the 64 symptomatic patients was assessed at baseline and after therapy using a subjective-based 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 100 (maximal pain) [17]. The pain decreased approximately by 65% four weeks after LLLT 2. Participants were also asked to complete the Lysholm Knee Scoring System (LKS) [18], a knee specific questionnaire evaluating pain, function, and swelling of the knee at baseline and after therapy. Four weeks after LLLT the laser group reported an an increase (improvement) in Lysholm score of [82.5 ± 4.6; range, 77-94)

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
All the participants were also asked to complete: 1. The Lysholm Knee Scoring System 2. Quantify their pain using VAS at 6 months and after 1 year At 6 months only a small percentage of patient [2 of 32 patients (6.25%)] had reported a recurrence of the pain. After 1 year, 5 of 2 patients (15.6%) had reported a recurrence of the pain.	—

Countries

Greece

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 25, 2026