Effect of High-Intensity Laser Therapy on Femoral Cartilage in Knee Osteoarthritis

NCT07584603 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: UOL/IREB/25/12/0033
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 58
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This clinical trial will evaluate the effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on femoral cartilage thickness and other clinical outcomes in people with knee osteoarthritis. Participants aged 40 to 60 years with grade II or III knee osteoarthritis will be randomly assigned to receive either HILT plus conventional physiotherapy or conventional physiotherapy alone. Both groups will receive 12 treatment sessions on alternate days for 4 weeks. The study will assess changes in cartilage thickness using ultrasound, as well as improvements in pain, knee movement, muscle strength, and daily function. Findings from this research may help improve physiotherapy treatment strategies for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Conditions

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee; Osteoarthitis

Keywords

High Intensity Laser Therapy; Knee Osteoarthritis; Femoral Cartilage Thickness; High Level Laser Therapy; Osteoarthritis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Femoral Cartilage Thickness

  Mean change in femoral cartilage thickness (mm) measured by high-frequency musculoskeletal ultrasound at three standardized sites - medial femoral condyle, intercondylar notch, and lateral femoral condyle. The measurement will be performed using a 7-12 MHz linear probe following standardized scanning protocol

  Baseline, Week 4

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Pain Intensity

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4

• Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC)

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4

• Knee Range of Motion (ROM)

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4

• One-Leg Stance Test

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4

• Quadriceps Muscle Strength

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4

Study Arms (2)

High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) + Conventional Physiotherapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) using a Class IV laser (1064 nm wavelength) applied at eight standardized knee points according to WALT guidelines, along with conventional physiotherapy including hot moist pack, joint mobilization, and strengthening exercises. Treatment will be given on alternate days for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).

Device: High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) + Conventional Physiotherapy

Conventional Physiotherapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will receive only conventional physiotherapy, including hot moist pack, patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joint mobilization, and a structured exercise program for quadriceps and hamstrings. Treatment will be given on alternate days for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).

Other: Conventional Physiotherapy

Interventions

Conventional Physiotherapy OTHER

Conventional physiotherapy includes hot moist pack application, manual joint mobilization, stretching, and strengthening exercises for quadriceps and hamstrings. Sessions will be held on alternate days for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).

Conventional Physiotherapy

High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) + Conventional Physiotherapy DEVICE

HILT will be administered using a Class IV laser applied perpendicularly at eight standardized knee points. Both analgesic and biostimulation modes will be used.. Sessions will be conducted on alternate days for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).

High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) + Conventional Physiotherapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male and female participants aged 40-60 years.
• Diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade II or III).
• Knee pain for at least 3 months.
• Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score ≥ 3.
• Willing to provide written informed consent and comply with treatment and follow-up schedule.

You may not qualify if:

• History of knee surgery or traumatic knee injury.
• Inflammatory arthritis (e.g., gout, psoriatic arthritis).
• History of cancer or psychiatric illness.
• Cognitive disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease).
• Severe comorbidities limiting exercise (e.g., severe COPD, heart failure, cerebrovascular event).
• Hip or ankle joint disability.
• Intra-articular knee injection within the past 3 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore: lead

Study Sites (1)

London Aesthetics and Rejuvenation Center

Lahore, Punjab Province, 55000, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Iqra Waseem, Ph.D Scholar

CONTACT

+923347779399; iqra.waseem91@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: This is a single-blind study. The outcome assessor will be blinded to group allocation, while the participants and treating physiotherapist will be aware of the intervention assigned
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned into two parallel groups: one receiving High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) plus conventional physiotherapy, and the other receiving conventional physiotherapy alone. Each group will receive 12 treatment sessions on alternate days for 4 weeks.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2025
• First Posted: May 13, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 10, 2027
• Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)