{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T09:21:51Z","timestamp":1791883311898,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,15]],"date-time":"2022-06-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1655251200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"The University of Bergen"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Both physical activity and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can reduce knee osteoarthritis (KOA) inflammation. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to investigate the short- and long-term effectiveness of LLLT combined with strength training in persons with KOA. Methods: Fifty participants were randomly divided in two groups, one with LLLT plus strength training (n = 26) and one with placebo LLLT plus strength training (n = 24). LLLT and strength training were performed triweekly for 3 and 8 weeks, respectively. In the laser group, 3 joules 904 nm wavelength laser was applied to fifteen points (45 joules) per knee per session. Patient-reported outcomes, physical tests, and ultrasonography assessments were performed at baseline and 3, 8, 26, and 52 weeks after initial LLLT or placebo therapy. The primary outcomes were pain on movement, at rest, at night (Visual Analogue Scale), and globally (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscale). Parametric data were assessed with analysis of variance using \u0160id\u00e1k\u2019s correction. Results: There were no significant between-group differences in the primary outcomes. However, in the laser group there was a significantly reduced number of participants using analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and increased performance in the sit-to-stand test versus placebo-control at week 52. The joint line pain pressure threshold (PPT) improved more in the placebo group than in the laser group, but only significantly at week 8. No other significant treatment effects were present. However, pain on movement and joint line PPT were worse in the placebo group at baseline, and therefore, it had more room for improvement. The short-term percentage of improvement in the placebo group was much higher than in similar trials. Conclusions: Pain was reduced substantially in both groups. LLLT seemed to provide a positive add-on effect in the follow-up period in terms of reduced pain medication usage and increased performance in the sit-to-stand test.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11123446","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,16]],"date-time":"2022-06-16T03:01:22Z","timestamp":1655348482000},"page":"3446","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":26,"title":["Short- and Long-Term Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy Combined with Strength Training in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9869-0705","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martin Bj\u00f8rn","family":"Stausholm","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3619-4578","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ingvill Fjell","family":"Naterstad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patricia Pereira","family":"Alfredo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, S\u00e3o Paulo 05508-070, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1648-5746","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christian","family":"Coupp\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical and Occupational Therapy Research Unit, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg University Hospital, 2400 Copenhagen, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kjartan Vibe","family":"Fersum","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ernesto Cesar Pinto","family":"Leal-Junior","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway"},{"name":"Laboratory of Phototherapy and Innovative Technologies in Health, Post-Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Nove de Julho University, S\u00e3o Paulo 01504-001, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rodrigo \u00c1lvaro Brand\u00e3o","family":"Lopes-Martins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group of Biophotonics and Experimental Therapeutics in Health and Esthetics-Post Graduate Program in Human Movement and Rehabilitation, University Center of An\u00e1polis, An\u00e1polis 75083-515, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jon","family":"Joensen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jan Magnus","family":"Bjordal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"205","article-title":"Knee osteoarthritis prevalence, risk factors, pathogenesis and features\u2014Part 1","volume":"2","author":"Heidari","year":"2011","journal-title":"Casp. 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