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THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF LASER ACUPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH EXERCISE AND ULTRASOUND THERAPY COMBINED WITH EXERCISE IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS ASSESSED THROUGH THE WOMAC SCALE
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Abstract
Objective: Compare the effectiveness of improving WOMAC score between the laser acupuncture combined with exercise and the ultrasound treatment combined with exercise in patients with knee osteoarthritis each week for 4 weeks. Subjects and research methods: The clinical trial includes a control group and involves 60 volunteers diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. The study is conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Le Van Thinh Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, from July 2022 to March 2023. The research participants were divided into two groups: the laser acupuncture combined with knee joint exercise group (the LA&VD group) and the ultrasound therapy combined with knee joint exercise group (the SA&VD group). The intervention is carried out over a period of 4 weeks, and treatment effectiveness is assessed using the WOMAC scoring system. Result: After 4 weeks of research, the WOMAC knee pain score in the LA&VD group was lower than that in the SA&VD group (p = 0.031). There were no statistically significant differences in WOMAC knee stiffness and WOMAC physical function scores between the two groups after 4 weeks. The overall WOMAC score decreased to a median of 27 in the LA&VD group and 34 in the SA&VD group, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). The study did not observe any unintended effects or adverse clinical symptoms in both groups. Conclusion: After 4 weeks, the LA&VD group significantly improves WOMAC scores compared to pre-study levels and outperforms the SA&VD group. No observed adverse effects related to laser acupuncture have been documented in the clinical setting.
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Keywords
WOMAC, laser acupuncture, osteoarthritis
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