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Light Therapy on Pain and Synovitis

NCT07057063 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 80

Last updated 2025-11-26

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background: Knee pain is a common complaint among middle-aged and older adults, often leading to reduced mobility and diminished quality of life. Synovitis is a major underlying cause, present in up to 80% of individuals with moderate knee pain. While light therapy has shown anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in preclinical studies, our prior animal experiments revealed that light therapy at 810 nm significantly alleviated inflammation and pain-like behaviors. These findings suggest a potential wavelength-specific therapeutic effects. However, it remains unclear whether such effects can be replicated in humans. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of 810 nm light therapy, compared to sham treatment, in reducing knee pain and synovitis in patients with chronic knee pain and knee synovitis.

Methods/design:

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 90 participants with chronic knee pain and ultrasound-detected synovitis. Participants will be randomized into two groups to receive 810 nm light therapy, or sham therapy, delivered twice weekly over five weeks. Primary outcomes include knee pain assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and synovitis assessed by ultrasound. Secondary outcomes include the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the 30-second chair stand test, and the 40-meter fast-paced walk test. Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline, post-intervention (week 5), and at 1 month and 6 months after treatment completion. Linear mixed-effects models will be used to compare outcome changes between groups.

Discussion:

This trial will assess whether 810 nm light therapy provides clinically meaningful benefits for reducing knee pain and synovitis in humans, building on promising preclinical findings. Results from this study may support the use of near-infrared light as a safe, non-invasive, and effective intervention for synovitis-related knee pain.

Conditions

  • Knee Pain Chronic
  • Synovitis of Knee
  • Light Therapy

Interventions

DEVICE

810 nm Light Therapy

Light therapy at 810 nm, 39 J/cm², delivered via wearable device.

DEVICE

Sham Light Therapy

Identical device, no light output, delivered via wearable device.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
40 Years
Max Age
80 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-07-13
Primary Completion
2026-05-28
Completion
2026-05-28

Countries

  • China
  • Hong Kong

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07057063 on ClinicalTrials.gov