Evaluation of the Effects of High Intensity Laser Therapy and Exercise in Hand Thumb Osteoarthritis

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

High-Intensity Laser Therapy and Exercise: High-intensity laser therapy will be applied to the painful and affected joint of the participants. A Class IV high-intensity laser device will be used. The parameters to be applied have been determined based on the relevant guidelines: average power 3 W, in analgesic mode, wavelength of 1064 nm, frequency of 2 Hz, energy dose of 75 J per session, spot size of 5 cm², and treatment will be administered three times per week for a total of 4 weeks. The total treatment duration will be 160 seconds. A standard exercise program including range of motion, stretching, and strengthening exercises will be administered to the participant during the treatment sessions. Strengthening exercises will be performed using a therapy ball to improve grip and pinch strength.

High-Intensity Laser Therapy at a Non-Therapeutic Dose Combined With Exercise: Participants will receive high-intensity laser therapy at an ineffective dose to the painful and affected joint. Due to the absence of a placebo mode in the laser device used in hospital, the lowest possible parameters will be applied to simulate an ineffective dose. For the ineffective dose, the device parameters will be set as follows: average power 0.5 W, in analgesic mode, wavelength of 1064 nm, frequency of 1 Hz, energy dose of 12 J per session, spot size of 5 cm², and treatment will be administered three times per week for a total of 4 weeks. The treatment duration will be the same as that of the intervention group. A standard exercise program including range of motion, stretching, and strengthening exercises will be administered to the participant during the treatment sessions. Strengthening exercises will be performed using a therapy ball to improve grip and pinch strength.

Study summary

One of the standard treatment methods in individuals with thumb osteoarthritis (OA) is exercise. Combination therapy options involving these exercises can be applied to patients. It has been demonstrated that high-intensity laser therapy is effective in terms of pain and function in patients with thumb OA.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of an exercise program combined with high-intensity laser therapy on pain, function, and muscle strength in patients with first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Visual Analog Scale (VAS) — Patients will be assessed before and after the intervention, and at the 1st and 3rd months following the treatment.
  A 100-mm horizontal line is used, with the two extremes of the parameter to be assessed labeled at each end. The patient is asked to indicate their perceived condition by marking a point or drawing a line on the scale that best reflects their current state. VAS is commonly employed to numerically document pain intensity as well as the patient's subjective global health assessment.

Trial sites (1)

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