Published: Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2018 Sep;59(9):959-966.
Keyword: Laser therapy; photobiomodulation; osteoarthritis; canine; pain
Author(s): "Looney A, Huntingford J, Blaeser L, Mann S"
This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical study examining the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) or sham light therapy on pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) requirement, and lameness in 20 client-owned dogs with naturally occurring elbow osteoarthritis.
Materials/Methods: Dogs (n = 20) were randomly assigned to receive either PBMT (group PBMT; n = 11) 10 to 20 J/cm2 or a placebo treatment (sham light group S; n = 9) treatment 0 J/cm2, to both elbows for 6 weeks. Clinician Lameness score, Helsinki Chronic Pain Index scoring by blinded owner, and NSAID dose were recorded before and 7 to 10 days after last treatment by blinded study personnel.
Results: Reduction in NSAID dose occurred in 9/11 dogs in the PBMT group, and in 0/9 of group S dogs (P = 0.0003). There was greater improvement in lameness score in the PBMT group compared to S group (P = 0.001). A greater reduction in pain score was detected in 9/11 parameters/daily life functions in group PBMT compared to group S (P < 0.05), with the exception of mood (P=0.2) and vocal score (P=0.35) which did not differ between groups before and after treatment.
Discussion/Conclusion: Regularly scheduled PBMT at 10 to 20 J/cm2 per joint for 6 weeks was successful in improving lameness and pain scores, and in lowering NSAID requirement in canine elbow osteoarthritis patients.
Acknowledgment: This study was funded by a grant from the Waltham Foundation. Equipment was provided by Companion Therapy by LiteCure. Neither supporter played a role in study design, data collection or analysis, and manuscript submission or publication.