Light Therapy for Osteoarthritis

Overseen By Karim Mudkida, MD, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Nova Scotia Health Authority

Disqualifiers: Other clinical trial, Arthroscopic surgery

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests the effectiveness of green light therapy in reducing knee pain for individuals with osteoarthritis. Participants will initially use a white LED light at home for 10 weeks, then switch to a green LED light after a short break. Researchers believe the green light may reduce pain and improve quality of life more effectively than the white light. Individuals who frequently experience moderate to severe knee pain and meet specific criteria, such as stiffness or bony tenderness, might be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides participants the chance to explore a potentially innovative pain relief method.

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 that any medications you are taking have been stable for at least 14 days before starting the trial.

What prior data suggests that this light therapy is safe for osteoarthritis patients?

Research shows that green LED light therapy is generally safe and easy to handle. In previous studies, people using low-intensity green LED lights reported no negative side effects, meaning they experienced no unwanted reactions or discomfort from the treatment.

Additionally, individuals with conditions like migraines and fibromyalgia experienced less pain after using green LED light therapy. This suggests the treatment might be effective without causing harm. Based on current research, green LED light therapy appears to be a safe option for managing pain. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Most treatments for osteoarthritis, like NSAIDs and physical therapy, focus on managing pain and improving joint function. However, green LED light therapy stands out because it offers a non-invasive and drug-free alternative that could potentially reduce pain by influencing the way pain signals are processed in the brain. This innovative approach excites researchers because it could provide relief without the side effects associated with medications, making it a promising option for those seeking a safer, home-based treatment.

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

Research shows that green LED light therapy, which participants in this trial may receive, might help reduce pain for people with knee osteoarthritis. Previous studies found that individuals with migraines and fibromyalgia experienced less pain after using green LED light for 10 weeks. In animal studies, green light exposure also reduced pain behaviors related to osteoarthritis. This therapy lowers pain sensitivity, known as hyperalgesia. These findings suggest that green LED light could be an effective, non-drug option for managing knee joint pain. Meanwhile, another group in this trial will use white LED light as a comparator. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Karim Mukhida, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Nova Scotia Health Authority

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with knee osteoarthritis who can read and write English, have moderate to severe pain, and stable medication use. They should be able to follow the study protocol and give informed consent. People with unstable housing or inability to attend visits are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

My average pain level is more than 4 out of 10 over the last week.

I have knee pain, am over 50, and my knee is stiff, makes noise, feels tender or enlarged without being warm.

My current medications have been the same for the last 14 days.

Exclusion Criteria

Currently enrolled in other clinical trial involving a pharmaceutical treatment

I am scheduled for a joint 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

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Pain Assessment

Participants gather baseline pain information for 4 weeks without any light intervention

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

White LED Treatment

Participants use white LEDs for 1-2 hours per day in a dark room at home

10 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Washout Period

Participants undergo a washout period without LED use

2 weeks

Green LED Treatment

Participants use green LEDs for 1-2 hours per day in a dark room at home

10 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in pain and quality of life after treatment

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Green LED light
• White LED light

Trial Overview

The trial is testing if green LED light therapy reduces pain in knee osteoarthritis patients compared to white LED light. Participants will first use white LED at home for 10 weeks, then after a break, switch to green LED for another 10 weeks while keeping a pain diary.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Green LED Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will be asked to use green LEDs for 1-2 hours/day in a dark room in their home.

Group II: White LED Placebo Group 2 Interventions

Participants will be asked to use white LEDs for 1-2 hours/day in a dark room in their home.

Green LED light is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Green Light Therapy for:

• Chronic pain in fibromyalgia and migraine
• Potential application in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Nova Scotia Health Authority

Lead Sponsor

Trials

302

Recruited

95,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

This scoping review analyzed 47 studies on LED therapy for synovial joint disorders, including 15 clinical trials, and found some positive effects on cell proliferation and pain reduction, but results varied widely due to differences in device parameters and dosimetry.

The review highlighted the need for future research to address fundamental questions about LED therapy's effectiveness, such as optimal penetration depth and treatment duration, to better understand its impact on synovial joint conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of LED therapy to treat synovial joints disorders: scoping review. Coracini, CA., Dos Santos Soares, F., Bertolini, GRF.[2022]

Low-level LED therapy (880 nm) significantly reduced inflammation in a rat model of Achilles tendinitis, as evidenced by decreased inflammatory cell influx and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha.

The therapy was effective when applied starting 12 hours after tendinitis induction, suggesting that LED treatment can enhance tissue response and reduce inflammation in tendon injuries.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-inflammatory effects of low-level light emitting diode therapy on Achilles tendinitis in rats. Xavier, M., David, DR., de Souza, RA., et al.[2010]

A meta-analysis of seven trials involving 345 patients found that Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) showed conflicting results for pain relief in osteoarthritis, with no significant overall effect on pain scores, but some studies reported beneficial outcomes.

Lower doses of LLLT were found to be as effective as higher doses for reducing pain and improving knee range of motion, suggesting that treatment parameters may significantly influence the therapy's effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low level laser therapy (Classes I, II and III) for treating osteoarthritis. Brosseau, L., Welch, V., Wells, G., et al.[2020]

Citations

1.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39466034/

Visual exposure to green light therapy reduces knee joint pain ...

Visual exposure to dim, green, light has been found to reduce pain levels in patients living with migraine, low back pain, and fibromyalgia.

2.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06395584

Light Therapy and MRI Imaging for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Both migraineurs and fibromyalgia patients have both reported significant reductions in pain following 10 weeks of green LED exposure. ... A pre-clinical study of ...

3.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11429231/

Green Light Exposure Reduces Primary Hyperalgesia and ...

3.1. Green Light Reduces Primary Hyperalgesia in a Model of Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis in Males and Females, with Effects Lasting beyond ...

4.

journals.lww.com

journals.lww.com/pain/fulltext/2025/06000/visual_exposure_to_green_light_therapy_reduces.8.aspx

Visual exposure to green light therapy reduces knee joint...

Green light therapy (GLT) reduces pain behaviour in experimental osteoarthritis (OA). (A) Treatment with green light significantly attenuated the secondary ...

5.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05398666

Analgesic Potential of Light Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis

This study is a one-way crossover clinical design to determine whether exposure to green light therapy will improve pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7861466/

Green Light Exposure Improves Pain and Quality of Life in ...

We demonstrated that exposure to green light-emitting diodes (GLED) for 8 hours/day for 5 days resulted in antinociception and reversal of thermal and ...