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may seem like a treatment that one would hear about in a science fiction TV show. Since 2002, however, it has become a recognized and often times preferred treatment for osteoarthritic knee pain sufferers who want to avoid invasive surgery.
Cold lasers are handheld, non-surgical devices that are used in a clinical setting. They function by emitting specific wavelengths of light (specifically 830 nm) thereby stimulating activity in the tissue on a cellular level. Once the metabolic rate of the cell is increased, it initiates a number of beneficial biochemical events. The most obvious benefit is a reduction in both pain and inflammation. For example, a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study reported in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery magazine found that cold laser therapy significantly relieved osteoarthritic knee pain and swelling in patients. The study also revealed that range of motion increased in the knee joint, and there was less sensitivity and tenderness around the knee joint.
Recently, an abstract entitled “Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Its Effects On The Quality of Life for Patients Suffering From Osteoarthritis Knee Pain in the Medial Compartment: A Detailed Analysis By Questionnaire” found that 79.8% of patients diagnosed with moderate to severe arthritis in the medial aspect of the knee joint (inside part of the knees where the knees touch) who were treated with reported feeling moderately to a great deal better and their quality of life improved after completing just five weeks of care.
In addition to helping reduce pain and inflammation in and around the knee joint, research indicates that may help an arthritic knee by doing the following:
- Increase fibroblastic activity; i.e. Fibroblasts are the cells responsible for making cartilage.
- Suppress Interleukin-1; i.e. Interleukin-1 is a protein that when released plays a direct role in destroying cartilage, it promotes the release of more enzymes that cause the breakdown of cartilage, and it inhibits type II collagen from being produced (so that cartilage cannot be rebuilt or replaced). There are high levels of this protein in an osteoarthritic knee so cold laser therapy prevents the release of this protein allowing cartilage to be maintained.
- Stimulate the release of growth factors; i.e. Treatments release growth factors which play a vital role in healthy knees because they stimulate the production of cartilage cells, or chondrocytes. Furthermore, the release of growth factors prevents the release of interleukin-1.
- Improve tensile strength of the tissues; i.e. Cold laser treatment is believed to improve the inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding of the tissue thereby improving the strength of the cartilage so that it does not wear down or get injured as easily.
In conclusion, for osteoarthritic knee pain sufferers who would like immediate relief from their knee pain but prefer a non-invasive procedure should consider finding a who specializes in for knee pain.