Light Therapy for Osteoarthritis

Overseen By Melissa O'Brien, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Nova Scotia Health Authority

Disqualifiers: Visual impairments, Other trial, Surgery, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore whether green light therapy can reduce knee pain from osteoarthritis by affecting how the brain processes pain. Researchers will divide participants into two groups: one will receive light therapy (also known as Circadian Focused Light Therapy, Bright Light Therapy, or Phototherapy), and the other will not. Both groups will keep pain diaries and undergo brain scans. The light therapy group will use two different colors of light daily for 20 weeks. Individuals with knee osteoarthritis who experience significant knee pain and can undergo MRI scans might be a good fit for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research in pain management.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but it requires stable pain medication use for the previous 14 days. This suggests you should continue your current medications without changes.

What prior data suggests that light therapy is safe for managing osteoarthritis pain?

Research has shown that light therapy, particularly with LED lights, is generally safe and easy to use. Studies have found that this therapy can reduce pain without causing side effects. For instance, one study discovered that high-density LED light significantly lessened pain after treatment compared to before. Another study found that low-intensity LED therapy is non-invasive and has no side effects, making it a safe choice for easing both short-term and long-term pain.

These findings suggest that light therapy could be a promising and safe alternative for managing pain without the downsides of medications. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about light therapy for osteoarthritis because it offers a non-invasive alternative to standard treatments like NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and physical therapy. Unlike these options, light therapy uses different colors of light to potentially reduce pain and inflammation by affecting brain activity, as seen through MRI scans. This approach is particularly appealing because it avoids the side effects associated with medications and might offer a novel way to manage pain by harnessing the body's own response to light.

What evidence suggests that light therapy might be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis?

Research shows that green light therapy may help reduce pain for conditions like migraines and fibromyalgia. Early studies suggest this therapy might work by altering the brain's perception of pain. Tests with animals and some human studies found that exposure to green light led to noticeable pain relief. In this trial, participants in the light therapy group will use both white and green light to explore its effects on osteoarthritis (OA). Light therapy aims to repair cells and reduce swelling, which can ease joint pain. Although the exact mechanism of how green light reduces pain remains unclear, early results are promising for its potential to help people with OA. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Karim Mukhida, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

NS Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with knee osteoarthritis who are seeking non-pharmacological pain management options. Participants will be required to use light therapy daily and keep a pain diary. They must also be willing to undergo MRI brain scans.

Inclusion Criteria

Right-handedness

I have osteoarthritis in my knee.

I can get onto an MRI table with little help.

Exclusion Criteria

Currently enrolled in other clinical trial involving a pharmaceutical treatment

Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning. For example: cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, fear of closed spaces, pregnancy

I am scheduled for knee surgery within the next 8 months.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Placebo Light Treatment

Participants in the active group receive daily placebo (white) light intervention for 10 weeks

10 weeks

Daily home sessions

Green Light Treatment

Participants in the active group receive daily green light intervention for 10 weeks

10 weeks

Daily home sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in pain and brain activity through MRI scans and questionnaires

4 weeks

3 MRI scans

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Light Therapy

Trial Overview

The study is testing the effectiveness of green and white LED light therapy in reducing knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. It aims to understand if this treatment can alter brain processes related to pain, without adverse side effects.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: No light therapy group Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will not receive light intervention but will be asked to complete daily pain diaries and a series of 3 MRI brain scans.

Group II: Light therapy group Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants will be asked to use two different colours of light for 1-2 hours/day in a dark room in their home for 20 weeks. They will first use a white light for 10 weeks, followed by a green light for 10 weeks. They will be asked to complete daily pain diaries and a series of 3 MRI brain scans.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Nova Scotia Health Authority

Lead Sponsor

Trials

302

Recruited

95,300+

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10531845/

The Mechanisms and Efficacy of Photobiomodulation ...

These results suggest that exercise training and LLLT were effective in preventing cartilage degeneration and modulating inflammatory processes ...

2.

jkslms.or.kr

jkslms.or.kr/journal/view.html?uid=353&vmd=Full&

Phototherapy for osteoarthritis management: a narrative review

Based on the articles surveyed, light therapy can be used as a treatment for OA symptoms. It generally works by boosting cellular repair through increased ...

3.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06395584

Light Therapy and MRI Imaging for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Investigators will examine whether green light reduces OA knee pain by altering pain processes in the brain. To assess this, we will recruit 44 participants and ...

4.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2023.1286025/full

Current advances of photobiomodulation therapy in ...

After the 10-day treatments, pain was remarkably reduced by more than fifty percent and physical functions of patients were significantly improved in both laser ...

5.

nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26553-9

The effects of low-level laser therapy on muscle strength ...

In conclusion, both intervention groups improved muscle strength and functional performance as compared to the control group. The 808 nm ...

6.

e-arm.org

e-arm.org/journal/view.php?number=4342

Efficacy and Safety of High Density LED Irradiation Therapy ...

High-density LED irradiation therapy significantly reduced the pain posttreatment compared with that observed at the baseline (p<0.001).

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9980499/

Low-intensity LASER and LED (photobiomodulation ...

In conclusion, low-intensity LASER and LED (PBMT) offers a non-invasive, safe, drug-free, and side-effect-free method for pain relief of both acute and chronic ...