HILT Dose Optimization for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

NCT ID: NCT06916676

Last Updated: 2025-04-08

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

140 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-04-23

Study Completion Date

2027-06-01

Brief Summary

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This study aims to find the best settings (dose) for High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) to reduce pain and improve function in people with moderate knee osteoarthritis. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of three different doses of HILT (low, medium, or high) or a sham (placebo) laser treatment, three times a week for four weeks. The main outcomes measured will be changes in knee pain (using a pain scale) and knee function (using a questionnaire) from the beginning to the end of the 4-week treatment period.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Knee Osteoarthritis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Low-Dose HILT (10 J/cm²)

Participants receive High-Intensity Laser Therapy at a dosage of 10 J/cm² per treatment zone, 3 times per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Low-Dose High-Intensity Laser Therapy (10 J/cm²)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Application of HILT using an Nd:YAG laser (BTL-6000, 1064 nm). Delivered via continuous scanning technique (1 cm distance) to 5 zones (25 cm² each) covering anterior, medial, and lateral knee aspects. Target dose: 10 J/cm² per zone. Session frequency: 3x/week for 4 weeks (12 total). Session duration: 15-20 min. Administered by trained PTs in outpatient rehab. Skin temperature monitored.

Medium-Dose HILT (15 J/cm²)

Participants receive High-Intensity Laser Therapy at a dosage of 15 J/cm² per treatment zone, 3 times per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Medium-Dose High-Intensity Laser Therapy (15 J/cm²)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Application of HILT using an Nd:YAG laser (BTL-6000, 1064 nm). Delivered via continuous scanning technique (1 cm distance) to 5 zones (25 cm² each) covering anterior, medial, and lateral knee aspects. Target dose: 15 J/cm² per zone. Session frequency: 3x/week for 4 weeks (12 total). Session duration: 15-20 min. Administered by trained PTs in outpatient rehab. Skin temperature monitored.

High-Dose HILT (20 J/cm²)

Participants receive High-Intensity Laser Therapy at a dosage of 20 J/cm² per treatment zone, 3 times per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

High-Dose High-Intensity Laser Therapy (20 J/cm²)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Application of HILT using an Nd:YAG laser (BTL-6000, 1064 nm). Delivered via continuous scanning technique (1 cm distance) to 5 zones (25 cm² each) covering anterior, medial, and lateral knee aspects. Target dose: 20 J/cm² per zone. Session frequency: 3x/week for 4 weeks (12 total). Session duration: 15-20 min. Administered by trained PTs in outpatient rehab. Skin temperature monitored.

Sham HILT

Participants receive a sham High-Intensity Laser Therapy procedure using the same device and application technique, but with no energy delivered, 3 times per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham High-Intensity Laser Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham procedure mimicking active HILT using the same Nd:YAG laser device (BTL-6000). Same setup, patient positioning, scanning technique over identical zones, and session duration/frequency (3x/week, 4 weeks, 15-20 min). Device powered on with visual/auditory cues active, but no laser energy emitted. Administered by trained PTs in outpatient rehab. Skin temperature monitored.

Interventions

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Low-Dose High-Intensity Laser Therapy (10 J/cm²)

Application of HILT using an Nd:YAG laser (BTL-6000, 1064 nm). Delivered via continuous scanning technique (1 cm distance) to 5 zones (25 cm² each) covering anterior, medial, and lateral knee aspects. Target dose: 10 J/cm² per zone. Session frequency: 3x/week for 4 weeks (12 total). Session duration: 15-20 min. Administered by trained PTs in outpatient rehab. Skin temperature monitored.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Medium-Dose High-Intensity Laser Therapy (15 J/cm²)

Application of HILT using an Nd:YAG laser (BTL-6000, 1064 nm). Delivered via continuous scanning technique (1 cm distance) to 5 zones (25 cm² each) covering anterior, medial, and lateral knee aspects. Target dose: 15 J/cm² per zone. Session frequency: 3x/week for 4 weeks (12 total). Session duration: 15-20 min. Administered by trained PTs in outpatient rehab. Skin temperature monitored.

Intervention Type DEVICE

High-Dose High-Intensity Laser Therapy (20 J/cm²)

Application of HILT using an Nd:YAG laser (BTL-6000, 1064 nm). Delivered via continuous scanning technique (1 cm distance) to 5 zones (25 cm² each) covering anterior, medial, and lateral knee aspects. Target dose: 20 J/cm² per zone. Session frequency: 3x/week for 4 weeks (12 total). Session duration: 15-20 min. Administered by trained PTs in outpatient rehab. Skin temperature monitored.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham High-Intensity Laser Therapy

Sham procedure mimicking active HILT using the same Nd:YAG laser device (BTL-6000). Same setup, patient positioning, scanning technique over identical zones, and session duration/frequency (3x/week, 4 weeks, 15-20 min). Device powered on with visual/auditory cues active, but no laser energy emitted. Administered by trained PTs in outpatient rehab. Skin temperature monitored.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Age between 45 and 75 years, inclusive. Clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria (knee pain plus at least 3 of 6: age \>50, morning stiffness \<30 min, crepitus, bony tenderness, bony enlargement, no palpable warmth).

Radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis corresponding to Kellgren-Lawrence grade II or III in the target knee.

Average knee pain intensity ≥ 4 on a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during weight-bearing activities in the past week.

Willingness and ability to attend 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks and attend all assessment sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

Previous surgery on the index knee (including arthroscopy within the last year or joint replacement).

Diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout).

Intra-articular corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injection in the index knee within the last 3 months.

Clinically significant comorbidities that could interfere with participation or assessment (e.g., severe uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, severe pulmonary disease, significant neurological deficits affecting the lower limb).

Presence of skin conditions (e.g., infection, open wounds, eczema, photosensitivity disorders) in the area designated for laser treatment.

Current use of anticoagulant medication (e.g., warfarin, DOACs) due to potential risk, unless stable and cleared by physician. (Consider if this is truly necessary based on HILT mechanism).

History of cancer in the treatment area or active malignancy elsewhere. Known photosensitivity or use of photosensitizing medications. Pregnancy, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Participation in another interventional clinical trial within the last 30 days. Inability to understand or communicate in the study language.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Al Hayah University In Cairo

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Faculty of Physical Therapy, Al Hayah University

Cairo, , Egypt

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Egypt

Central Contacts

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Ibrahim Zoheiry, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

01277774949

Mohamed ElMeligie, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

01159880001

Facility Contacts

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Mohamed ElMeligie, Ph.D

Role: primary

01159880001 ext. +20

Other Identifiers

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HILT-KOA-DOSE

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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