Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, characterized by the progressive degeneration of joint cartilage and underlying bone. It commonly affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and spine, but can also affect the hands, wrists, and other joints. It's estimated that around 10% of men and 18% of women aged 60 years and older have symptomatic osteoarthritis. By age 65, nearly 30% of people have osteoarthritis, and by age 85, the prevalence increases to around 80%.
The clinical presentation of OA varies depending on the joint involved and the severity of cartilage damage.
Symptoms
The primary signs and symptoms of OA include:
Pain
- Joint pain is the hallmark of OA, typically exacerbated by activity or weight-bearing and relieved by rest.
Stiffness
- Can occur in a morning or after periods of inactivity and improves with activity. Stiffness often results in reduced ROM (range of motion).
Swelling
- May occur due to synovial fluid accumulation or inflammation around the joint.
Crepitus
- The sensation or audible sound of grating or crunching (known as crepitus), is commonly felt or heard during movement of the affected joint.
Joint Instability
- Related to functional impairment (a feeling of joint instability or “giving way”) or muscle weakness.
Decreased Function
- OA can cause significant interference with daily activities. Pain, stiffness and weakness all contribute to decreased function.
Risk Factors include age, gender, obesity, joint injuries, genetics and occupational hazards.
Interventions
A combination of physical therapy and exercise will be an essential part of the recommendation for managing and treating osteoarthritis. TENS units are often used for short term pain relief and can be applied at home.
Medical and Surgical Modalities such as NSAIDs, Acetaminophen, Topical Analgesics and Corticosteroid/ Hyaluronic Acid Injections maybe prescribed for treating osteoarthritis.
HIGH INTENSITY
PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY (PBMT)
There is justifiably growing interest in the use of Photobiomodulation (PBMT) therapy (Laser) for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The therapeutic effects of PBMT in improving pain and function have been widely supported in research studies. More recently research emphasis has moved to High Intensity (HI) PBMT from Low laser therapy. A study by Poenaru et al (2024), compared the two and demonstrated much better results with the HI PBMT for decreasing pain and improving function for Knee Osteoarthritis. Stating that the analgesic effect is rapid, cumulative and long lasting.
A meta-analysis by Khalilizad et al (2024) found that High Intensity PBMT combined with exercise showed significant improvement in outcomes for both pain and improved knee function for Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. A further systematic review and meta-analysis by Cai et al (2023), compared HI PBMT to other interventions for KOA. These included: other laser therapies, conventional therapies or exercise. The authors concluded that HI PBMT should be recommended for pain relief in patients with KOA over other treatments.
Read more about the Lightforce Therapy Solution for decreasing pain and improving function here