Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy Combined With Exercise in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

The goal of this clinical trial was to determine whether high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) combined with exercise improves pain, physical function, and muscle strength in people with knee osteoarthritis. The main questions the study aimed to answer were: * Did HILT combined with exercise lower pain more than sham laser combined with exercise? * Did HILT combined with exercise improve physical function more than sham laser combined with exercise? * Did HILT combined with exercise improve knee extensor muscle strength more than sham laser combined with exercise? Researchers compared HILT plus exercise with sham laser plus exercise to determine whether HILT provided additional benefits beyond those achieved with exercise alone. Participants: * Received either HILT or sham laser treatment for four weeks. * Participated in a standardized exercise program. * Completed assessments of pain, physical function, and muscle strength before and after treatment.

Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis. * Age between 45 and 77 years. * Pain intensity of at least 3 points on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of other musculoskeletal conditions affecting the lower limbs. * History of lower limb surgery. * Tattoos in the laser application area. * Recent intra-articular corticosteroid injection. * Comorbidities limiting participation in physical exercise, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, or severe heart failure.