Effects of photobiomodulation and a physical exercise program on the expression of inflammatory and cartilage degradation biomarkers and functional capacity in women with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized blinded study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 34656170 · doi:10.1186/s42358-021-00220-5
What was done
Forty-two women with knee osteoarthritis were randomized into three groups: exercise plus sham photobiomodulation (ESP), exercise plus active photobiomodulation cluster therapy (EAP), or a control group (CG). Six participants dropped out before completing the 8-week intervention. Measured outcomes at baseline and 8 weeks included functional capacity via the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index and serum biomarker concentrations (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and CTX-II).
What was found
Both exercise-containing groups had a significant improvement in total WOMAC scores at 8 weeks (p < 0.001), with ESP demonstrating lower scores compared to CG (p < 0.05). For biomarkers, EAP showed a significant increase in IL-10 at 8 weeks (p < 0.05) and a significantly higher level compared to CG (p < 0.001). The control group showed a significant increase in IL-1β (p < 0.05). No other significant differences between groups were reported for IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, or CTX-II. The abstract does not report baseline or post-treatment numerical means or effect sizes.
Why it matters
Exercise provides primary functional improvements in knee osteoarthritis, but combining it with photobiomodulation may provide additional biochemical benefit by upregulating the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.
Limits
Sample size was small (42 randomized, 36 finished) and limited entirely to female participants. Long-term follow-up beyond 8 weeks was not conducted, and specific numeric values and effect sizes are omitted in the abstract.