Invasive laser acupuncture using two different wavelengths demonstrated potential for short-term pain reduction in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
The study was a pilot clinical trial organized as a randomized, parallel-arm, patient- and outcome assessor-blinded, placebo-controlled design, conducted in a single center. The trial consisted of three groups: a control group, a group treated with a 650 nm wavelength, and a group treated with an 830 nm wavelength. The groups, each of 15 participants, were treated with invasive laser acupuncture on the knee affected most by osteoarthritis. Specific acupuncture points were targeted for ten minutes per session, twice weekly, over a span of six weeks.
The evidence pointed towards invasive laser acupuncture being effective in reducing pain, as observed through the changes in pain visual analog scale scores at different visits. These changes were significant among the three groups. Furthermore, variations in the participants' quality of life and ability to function, as measured by the European Quality of Life Five Dimension Five Level Scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores, were also noticeable among the groups. No adverse events connected to the method were observed during the study.
