Light Therapy for Osteoarthritis
Trial Summary
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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Light Therapy for Osteoarthritis?
How is light therapy different from other treatments for osteoarthritis?
Light therapy for osteoarthritis is unique because it uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate photochemical reactions in cells, which may help with cartilage repair and reduce pain and disability. Unlike traditional treatments that might involve medication or surgery, this non-invasive approach focuses on using light to promote healing and improve joint function.13456
What is the purpose of this trial?
Managing joint pain is one of the main goals for treating osteoarthritis (OA) and other musculoskeletal disorders. Alleviating chronic pain pharmacologically has several potential drawbacks including diminishing efficacy, toxicity, adverse side-effects, and patient anxiety. Non-pharmacological approaches (eg. weight loss) have also been found to be effective at controlling joint pain and can provide supplementary benefits. The development of efficacious, alternative treatments for arthritis pain which provide analgesia without adverse side-effects would be advantageous.Recently, preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that green ambient light using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) produced profound analgesia in animal models and chronic pain patients. Both migraineurs and fibromyalgia patients have both reported significant reductions in pain following 10 weeks of green LED exposure.It is unknown how green light reduces pain, but it is believed to be in the connections between the visual and pain control centres in the brain. 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 randomly assign them to one of two groups: one group will receive light treatments every day for 20 weeks and the other group will not. We will ask both groups to report pain in daily pain diaries and ask both groups to have a series of 3 MRI brain scans to determine if light exposure changes how the brain processes pain.
Research Team
Karim Mukhida, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
NS Health
Eligibility Criteria
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
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Placebo Light Treatment
Participants in the active group receive daily placebo (white) light intervention for 10 weeks
Green Light Treatment
Participants in the active group receive daily green light intervention for 10 weeks
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in pain and brain activity through MRI scans and questionnaires
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Light Therapy
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Nova Scotia Health Authority
Lead Sponsor