Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for the Treatment of Hand Osteoarthritis.

NCT ID: NCT04692597

Last Updated: 2025-12-16

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

83 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-03-02

Study Completion Date

2025-12-09

Brief Summary

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This study is a randomized, control trial of Active Duty and DoD Beneficiaries, age 18 years or older, with complaints of hand osteoarthritis. Subjects will be randomized into one of two groups receiving either LLLT or sham LLLT. Subjects will receive LLLT or sham LLLT weekly over a period of six weeks. At each visit, patients will rate their pain using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) and assess their functionality using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Subjects will have a follow up visit six weeks after the treatment protocol for a final assessment of pain and function. The Phoenix Thera-Lase laser is a Class II, 510k cleared device (#K151521) and is legally marketed in the US. Investigators are using in accordance with its approved labeling and no changes to the approved labeling are being sought.

Detailed Description

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This study is a randomized, control trial of Active Duty and DoD Beneficiaries, age 18 years or older, with complaints of hand osteoarthritis. Subjects will be randomized into one of two groups receiving either LLLT or sham LLLT. Subjects will receive LLLT or sham LLLT weekly over a period of six weeks. At each visit, patients will rate their pain using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) and assess their functionality using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Subjects will have a follow up visit six weeks after the treatment protocol for a final assessment of pain and function. The Phoenix Thera-Lase laser is a Class II, 510k cleared device (#K151521) and is legally marketed in the US. Investigators are using in accordance with its approved labeling and no changes to the approved labeling are being sought.

The Phoenix Thera-Lase System is intended to emit energy in the infrared spectrum to provide topical heating for the purpose of elevating tissue temperature for temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain, muscle spasm, pain and stiffness associated with minor arthritis, promoting relaxation of muscle tissue and to temporarily increase local blood circulation. It is specifically designed as a high-power laser with an output power of 35 Watts and an output wavelength of1064 nm. The study will be utilizing an output power of 74 Watts and an output wavelength of 1275 nm.

Conditions

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Low Level Laser Therapy Osteoarthritis Family Medicine Pain Management Integrative Medicine

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Group 1 (LLLT)

Group 1: Low level laser therapy (LLLT) using Phoenix Thera-lase device (74 Watts, 1275 nm wavelength) for 6 minutes affected per hand.

The protocol for each group will involve one minute of LLLT over each of the following treatment zones: dorsal fingers and thumb, dorsal metacarpals, dorsal wrist, palmar fingers and thumb, palmar metacarpals, palmar wrist for a total of 6 minutes affected on each hand. The LLLT device will be held approximately 12 inches from the skin surface.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Phoenix Thera-Lase System

Intervention Type DEVICE

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) using Phoenix Thera-lase device (74 Watts, 1275 nm wavelength) for 6 minutes per affected hand.

Group 2 (LLLT Sham)

Group 2: Sham LLLT using the Phoenix Thera-lase device with the guide light on but without emitting laser photons for 6 minutes affected per hand.

The protocol for each group will involve one minute of sham LLLT over each of the following treatment zones: dorsal fingers and thumb, dorsal metacarpals, dorsal wrist, palmar fingers and thumb, palmar metacarpals, palmar wrist for a total of 6 minutes affected on each hand. The LLLT device will be held approximately 12 inches from the skin surface.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

SHAM Phoenix Thera-Lase System

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham LLLT using the Phoenix Thera-lase device with the guide light on but without emitting laser photons for 6 minutes per affected hand.

Interventions

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Phoenix Thera-Lase System

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) using Phoenix Thera-lase device (74 Watts, 1275 nm wavelength) for 6 minutes per affected hand.

Intervention Type DEVICE

SHAM Phoenix Thera-Lase System

Sham LLLT using the Phoenix Thera-lase device with the guide light on but without emitting laser photons for 6 minutes per affected hand.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Male and Female Active Duty and DoD Beneficiaries aged 18 years or older
* Hand pain, aching, or stiffness

And at least 3 of the 4 following features:

* Hard tissue enlargement of 2 or more of 10 selected joints
* Hard tissue enlargement of 2 or more distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints
* Fewer than 3 swollen metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints
* Deformity of at least 1 of 10 selected joints

(The 10 selected joints are the first carpometacarpal (CMC), second and third proximal interphalangeal (PIP), second and third DIP joints of both hands.)

Exclusion Criteria

* Known diagnosis of another type of arthritis: rheumatoid, psoriatic, crystalline, inflammatory bowel associated arthritis
* History of treatment with LLLT in the past 12 weeks Surgery within the past 6 weeks
* Hand fracture within the past 6 weeks
* Pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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David Moss

FED

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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David Moss

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center

Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Other Identifiers

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FWH20210010H

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id