Light Therapy for Osteoarthritis

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen byKarim Mukhida, MD, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Nova Scotia Health Authority

No Placebo Group

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction

Trial Summary

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. The investigators aim to assess the analgesic potential of green light therapy for people living with knee osteoarthritis. Participants will be asked to keep a pain diary for 4 weeks prior to light intervention. All participants will first use a white LED (20 lux) for 1-2 hours per day in a dark room at home for 10 weeks. Following a 2-week washout period without light use, participants will use a green LED (20 lux) for 1-2 hours per day in a dark room at home for 10 weeks. Following completion of the intervention, the investigator will assess changes in reported pain and quality of life. The investigators hypothesize that participants will have improvements in pain intensity and quality of life following treatment with green LEDs.

Eligibility Criteria

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.

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Exclusion Criteria

Currently enrolled in other clinical trial involving a pharmaceutical treatment

I am scheduled for a joint surgery within the next 8 months.

Treatment Details

Interventions

Green LED light (Behavioural Intervention)
White LED light (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial OverviewThe 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.

Participant Groups

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Placebo Group

Group I: Green LEDExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

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

Group II: White LEDPlacebo Group2 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: