Laser acupuncture does not significantly improve pain, function, or mobility in knee osteoarthritis as per the current evidence.
The researchers sought to determine the impact of laser acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis. The process involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared laser acupuncture to sham treatment, placebo, electroacupuncture, or standard care. The trials, identified from major research databases, studied outcomes such as pain, function and range of motion in the affected knees. Risk of bias in the studies was assessed and variations in the results were explored through subgroup analyses.
Thirteen randomized controlled trials involving 611 participants were analyzed. The results showed no significant improvements in pain or function caused by osteoarthritis. There was a marginal trend towards improvement in knee function and mobility. However, the prevalence of substantial variations across studies, possibly due to differences in laser parameters and acupoint protocols, suggests that the results should be interpreted with caution. There was no evidence of significant publication bias.
