Laser Therapy, Pain and Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis Treatment
Laser Therapy, Pain and Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis Treatment
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and prevalent joint disorder with great impact on quality of
 life and high economic burden. Although a number of conservative therapies have proven to be
 effective for the management of hand OA, only modest treatment effects were reported for most
 individual interventions. The aim of the proposed study is to assess the effect of laser
 therapy on pain, function and force in patients with carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (CMC OA).
A randomized, controlled, single-center, double-blind, clinical trial, with 1:1 allocation
 ratio, were carried out involving patients diagnosis of CMC joint OA grade 1-2 (aged 18 years
 and above). Both assessor and statistician remained blinded. The research diagnostic criteria
 for carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis was used to assess all individuals who agree to
 participate. All participants were submitted to a clinical examination and X-ray assessment
 of thumb base to determine carpometacarpal osteoarthritis grade. Based on the clinical and
 radiological findings, the participants were classified by a rheumatology. Those with CMC OA
 grade 2-3 were included in the study. The experimental group received laser therapy and
 control group received a placebo treatment.

 The primary outcome measures was pain scores during daily living activities (DLA)- at the
 base of the thumb measured with VAS (Unidimensional measure of pain: 0-10 (0, no pain and 10,
 worst pain), and changes in hand function measured using the Quick-Dash questionnaire.
 Secondary outcome measures included changes in pinch strength. All outcome measures were
 collected at baseline, immediately following the intervention at 4 weeks and at 12 weeks
 following the end of the intervention.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Women over 18 diagnosis of CMC joint OA in their dominan hand.

 -  State 1-2 according to the American College of Rheumatology.

 -  Pain intensity during activities of daily living (ADLs) of up to 4 of 10 on the visual
 analog scale (VAS)

 -  Ability to read or understand the patient information sheets.

 -  Ability to sign a consent form will be included in the study

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Neurologic disorder affecting the upper limb

 -  Previous treatment for their hand problem in the last 6 months including an
 intra-articular joint injection to wrist, fingers, or thumb

 -  Had fractures or a significant hand injury or previous surgery to the wrist, thumb or
 hand

 -  Finger tenosynovitis.

 -  Dupuytren disease.

 -  Psychological treatment.