Effectiveness of HILT in Shoulder Osteoarthritis

Effectiveness of High-intensity Laser Therapy in Shoulder Osteoarthritis; a Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study

This study will determine the efficacy of High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) for the treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis.

Shoulder osteoarthritis (SO) is a musculoskeletal joint disease that affects the elderly. SO is characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage in the involved joints and its underlying bone within a joint as well as bony overgrowth. It is one of the major causes of physical disability that has a social and public health impact due to pain, stiffness, joint instability, and muscle weakness. The diagnosed patients with SO will be treated with HILT for a total of ten sessions during the entire duration of the treatment protocol. Parameters to be evaluated are: range of motion, pressure pain (algometer), pain perception (Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Modified Laitinen Pain Questionnaire), quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF) These parameters will be recorded before the first treatment (baseline), after completion of treatment, three and 12 months after completion treatment. A change in above parameters will be evaluated.

Patients will receive pulsed Nd:YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) laser, produced by HIRO 3.0 device (ASA, Vicenza, Italy). The total energy deliver to the patient during one session will be 3.000 J through three phases of treatment. HILT will be applied for a total of 4 weeks (three sessions/week).

For sham laser, the patient will attended the physical therapy clinic three times a week for 4 weeks and receive sham laser. It is applies the same time than experimental one but with 0 W.

Evolution of pain (Visual Analogic Scale and the Modified Laitinen Pain Questionnaire) between baseline, after the end of the protocol treatment, 3 and 12 months after the end of the protocol treatment

Comparison of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire mean between baseline, immediately after treatment the end of the protocol treatment, 3 and 12 months after the end of the protocol treatment. Quantitative evaluation of the primary outcome.

Comparison of the range of motion between baseline, immediately after the end of the protocol treatment, 3 and 12 months after the end of the protocol treatment. Quantitative evaluation of the primary outcome.

Comparison of the pressure pain (algometer) between baseline, immediately after the end of the protocol treatment, 3 and 12 months after the end of the protocol treatment. Quantitative evaluation of the primary outcome.

Inclusion Criteria: painful osteoarthritis of the shoulder for at least 6 months not engage in any other treatment during treatment period pain ≥4 on the visual analog scale (VAS) in the previous 3 months Exclusion Criteria: presence of any other musculoskeletal problems associated with the shoulder joint, such as fracture, tendon or ligament tears, meniscus injury, rheumatoid arthritis, or shoulder surgery receiving physical therapy and/or intra-articular corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections during the last 6 months absolute and relative contraindications of Laser Therapy