Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy on neuromuscular parameters and health status in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized trial.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2062Keywords:
osteoarthritis, low-level laser therapy, electrical stimulation, neuromuscular effects, elderly, combined modality therapy.Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy on neuromuscular parameters and health status in elderly subjects with knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: A randomized evaluator-blinded clinical trial. SUBJECTS: Forty-five elderly women with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Subjects were randomized into 1 of the following 3 intervention groups: electrical stimulation group (18-32 min pulsed current, stimulation frequency 80 Hz, pulse duration 400 μs, stimulation intensity 40% of maximal isometric voluntary contraction), laser group (dose 4-6 J per point, 6 points at the knee joint) or combined group (electrical stimulation plus laser therapy). The outcomes included muscle thickness and anatomical cross-sectional area (ultrasonography), knee extensors' electrical activity (electromyography), torque (dynamometry) and health status (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index). All groups underwent a 4-week control period (without intervention) followed by an 8-week intervention period. RESULTS: Muscle thickness and anatomical cross-sectional area increased in the electrical stimulation and combined groups. All groups presented similar improvements in torque, electrical activity and health status. CONCLUSION: Electrical stimulation alone or in combination with laser therapy generated positive effects on all evaluated parameters. Laser therapy increased health status and electrical activity, but had no effect on muscle mass.Downloads
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
All digitalized JRM contents is available freely online. The Foundation for Rehabilitation Medicine owns the copyright for all material published until volume 40 (2008), as from volume 41 (2009) authors retain copyright to their work and as from volume 49 (2017) the journal has been published Open Access, under CC-BY-NC licences (unless otherwise specified). The CC-BY-NC licenses allow third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material for non-commercial purposes, provided proper attribution to the original work.
From 2024, articles are published under the CC-BY licence. This license permits sharing, adapting, and using the material for any purpose, including commercial use, with the condition of providing full attribution to the original publication.
