Low-Level Laser Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis: Effects on Clinical Outcomes, Femoral Cartilage Thickness and Regional Sarcopenia

The conventional home based exercise program includes: hip and knee range of motion (ROM) exercises; stretching exercises for the hamstring, calf, and quadriceps muscles; isometric, concentric, and eccentric strengthening exercises for the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip adductors/abductors; relaxation exercises; and walking as aerobic exercises. The program will begin with ROM, stretching, relaxation, aerobic, and isometric strengthening exercises. After one week, concentric and eccentric strengthening exercises will be added using elastic bands. The home exercise program will be performed 3 days a week, each exercise in 3 sets of 10 repetitions and 2 minutes of rest between sets. Aerobic walking at a moderate pace (as determined by the talk test: the patient can talk but not sing during exercise) for 30 minutes will be recommended. Program will continue for 12 weeks.

Patients will receive LLLT treatment, they will be treated in a supine position with the knee flexed to 30 degrees, 5 sessions per week for 2 weeks. A total of 6 points will be treated each for 60 seconds. The treatment will be applied using the BTL SMART 4000 laser device at a wavelength of 835 nm and a dose of 10 J/point.