Published: Open Veterinary Journal, (2020), Vol. 10(1): 116–119
Keyword: Canine osteoarthritis, Chronic pain, laser therapy, orthopedic pain, photobiomodulation.
Author(s): Loris Barale, Paolo Monticelli, Massimo Raviola and Chiara Adami
Freelance Veterinarian, Carmagnola, Turin, Italy, Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK, Clinica Veterinaria Europa, Turin, ItalyCorresponding Author: Chiara Adami. Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Campus, AL97TA, Hatfield, UK. Email: cadami@rvc.ac.uk
Overview: The objective of this study was to determine whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) would improve the quality of life and help reducing systemic analgesics, in dogs with OA.
Materials/Methods:
- Seventeen client-owned dogs diagnosed with OA and associated pain were included.
- The diagnosis of OA was confirmed by orthopedic and radiographic examination.
- Pain was evaluated in each dog with the canine brief pain inventory (CBPI), compiled by the dog owners, as well as with a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Colorado state canine chronic pain scale, used by the clinician.
- The LLLT was performed weekly in each study dog, for a total period of 6 weeks.
- The areas of the body treated with laser were the affected joints and the associated skeletal muscle complexes, namely, the semitendinosus and semimembranosus for the stifle, the iliopsoas for the hip, and the triceps and the brachialis for the elbow.
- The laser probe was applied directly on the skin of the area to be treated; the joints were always treated first, before the muscles. Each area was treated weekly, for a total of 6 weeks.
- The duration of laser exposure ranged from 50 seconds to 4 minutes, depending on coat pigmentation (light or dark), and body weight (from 1 kg to >25 kg).
- Other variables were set by the software and listed by the authors as follows: 1000 mW potency, 1W/cm2 power density, 808-nm laser beam wavelength, frequencies of 500–1000 (joints) and 3,000–5,000 Hz (muscles), energy of 5 (joints) and 4.2 (muscles) J/cm2 respectively, and laser spot diameter varying from 3.5 to 11.5 mm, depending on the surface area to be treated. (Companion Animal Health Note: It is unclear if the same power density was maintained by changing the power emitted by the device, given these reported differences in spot size)
- The CBPI was then repeated at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after the first laser session, whereas the VAS was reassessed at weeks 2 and 6.
- The dogs were observed for the occurrence of laser-related side effects.
Results:
- Both CBPI and VAS were significantly reduced after the first laser session (9.2 ± 3.8 and 5.2 ± 1.1, respectively) compared to pretreatment values (11.8 ± 3.6 and 7.6 ± 0.9, respectively; and p = 0.018 and p < 0.001, respectively) and continued to decrease over time until the end of the therapy.
- Based on these results and improved function, as assessed by the orthopedic surgeon, the pharmacological analgesic therapy was reduced by the clinician at week 2 in 13 of 17 dogs. Laser-related side effects were not observed.
- The most relevant finding of this study was that laser therapy was effective in improving the dogs’ quality of life as perceived by their owners, and it also helped decreasing the administration of systemic analgesics.
- Interestingly, these positive effects could be seen immediately after the first laser therapy session and were enhanced by the repetition of the treatment over the 8-week study period.
Conclusions: The preliminary findings are promising and suggest that LLLT may help reducing the analgesic administration and improving client satisfaction and the quality of life of dogs with OA.