Comparative efficacy of high intensity laser therapy (Class IV) and ibuprofen gel phonophoresis in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis among people living in hilly terrain: A randomized controlled study.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) commonly causes pain and functional limitations, especially in hilly areas where mobility demands increase stress on the knee joint. High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) and Ibuprofen Gel Phonophoresis (IGP) are both effective treatments, though comparative data is limited. Hence, we aimed to determine the effect of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) (class-IV) and ibuprofen gel phonophoresis (IGP) for treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among people living in hilly terrain. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 116 patients, aged 45 to 70, diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) based on the Kellgren-Lawrence classification (grades I to IV). Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the HILT group, which received 15 min of Class IV laser therapy in three phases, and the IGP group, which underwent 8 min of phonophoresis treatment with ibuprofen gel. Both groups followed a home exercise program three times a week for three weeks. Outcomes were assessed using the WOMAC, Algometer, and SF-36 questionnaire. Age, height, weight and BMI of patients with KOA recruited were 57.2 (55.5 to 59.0) years, 161.8 (160.5 to 163.2) cm, 63.8 (62.3 to 65.3) kg and 24.3 (23.8 to 24.9) kg/m², respectively, with no significant difference between the groups. Both treatments significantly improved pain, stiffness, and physical function. HILT and IGP were both effective for treating KOA, with HILT showing significantly greater clinical improvement than IGP. NCT04320914 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04320914 ) with the Clinical Trial Registry on 25th March, 2020 (date of registration).