Comparison of the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and high-intensity laser therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a single-blind randomized clinical trial - Summary - MDSpire

Comparison of the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and high-intensity laser therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a single-blind randomized clinical trial

  • By

  • Orge Fatos Demirtas

  • Ozlem Altindag

  • Mazlum Serdar Akaltun

  • Neytullah Turan

  • Elif Balbal

  • Ali Gur

  • March 29, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To compare the effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) and High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on specific clinical findings, including pain reduction and functional improvement, in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Key Findings:
  • Both ESWT and HILT were effective in reducing pain and improving function in knee osteoarthritis patients, indicating their potential as treatment options.
  • Direct comparative studies between ESWT and HILT are limited, highlighting a significant gap in the literature that warrants further investigation.
Interpretation:

The study suggests that both ESWT and HILT can be beneficial for knee osteoarthritis, with implications for clinical practice; however, further research is needed to determine their relative effectiveness and optimal application.

Limitations:
  • Limited sample size and short follow-up duration may restrict the generalizability of the findings.
  • Potential biases due to the single-blind design could influence the results and their interpretation.
Conclusion:

Both ESWT and HILT show promise in treating knee osteoarthritis, but more extensive studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up durations are required for definitive conclusions.

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