OSTEOARTHRITIS and LASER THERAPY
Effect of low-level laser therapy on osteoarthropathy in rabbit.

In Vivo. 2004 Sep-Oct;18(5):585-91 Cho HJ, Lim SC, Kim SG, Kim YS, Kang SS, Choi SH, Cho YS, Bae CS. College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. The aim of this study was to determine whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) aided the recovery of damaged articular cartilage in joints with artificially induced osteoarthropathy (OA). OA was induced by injecting hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into the articular spaces of both knees in rabbits, twice a week for 4 weeks. The induction of OA and the effect of LLLT were evaluated by biochemical, radiological and histopathological analysis. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased about 40% in the OA group, as compared to the controls. Although SOD activity in the OA group was not significantly different from the 2-week groups, it was significantly different from the 4-week control and treatment groups. There was also a significant difference between the 4-week control and treatment groups. Simple radiographs and three-dimensional computed tomographs (3D CT) did not show detectable arthropathy in the OA group, nor any particular changes in the 2-week groups. In contrast, distinct erosions were seen in the distal articular cartilage of the femur, with irregularity of the articular surface, in the 4-week control group, while the erosions were reduced and arthropathy improved slightly in the 4-week treatment group. Grossly, erosions formed on the articular surface in the OA group. In comparison, severe erosions damaged the articular cartilage in the 4-week control group, but not in the 2-week control and treatment groups. Regeneration of articular cartilage was seen in gross observations in the 4-week treatment group. Histopathologically, there was slight irregularity of the articular surface and necrosis in the OA group, and serious cartilage damage, despite slight chondrocyte regeneration, in the 4-week control group. Conversely, the 4-week treatment group showed chondrocyte replacement, with sometimes close to normal articular cartilage on the articular surface. These results suggest that LLLT was effective in the treatment of chemically-induced OA.

Clinical study of the effect of laser therapy in rheumatic degenerative diseases. 
Rom J Intern Med. 1994 Jul-Sep;32(3):227-33 Fulga C, Fulga IG, Predescu M. The effect of a 940-980 nm length wave laser radiation in rheumatic degenerative diseases was studied in 136 patients unresponsive to or with contraindications for antiinflammatory non-steroid therapy. The evolution was clinically estimated using four parameters; pain, muscular contracture, local edema and the impairment of the articular mobility. All patients presented a beneficial evolution appearing gradually during the treatment. The osteoarthritis of the knee, ankle and shoulder evolved worse than the painful back. The painful back presented an improved evolution when it was located at the thoracic level. No adverse reaction was observed during this study. PMID: 7866340 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
 
Biostimulating laser therapy as one method of treating bone and joint diseases
 [Article in Polish] Przegl Lek. 1997;54(2):112-4 Kucharska E, Batko B. Przychodni Rejonowej Nr 6 Zespolu Lecznictwa Otwartego Srodmiescie w Krakowie. An assessment of medium power semi-conductor laser treatment effectiveness was evaluated in 205 patients (132 females and 73 males) aged 57 to 75 (mean 62.5) years with pain syndrome in a course of hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, temporo-maxillaris and vertebral joints degenerative changes. Procedures were performed 3 times a week using punctual technique, sweeping and scanning. Total number of procedures ranged from 8 to 20 and radiation energy dose was 4 to 12 J/cm2. Favorable therapy effect was demonstrated as pain and edema disappearance in about 40% of patients; insignificant therapeutic effect was achieved in 46.3% and lack of affect in 13.7% of individuals. PMID: 9198820 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]