The Efficacy Of Cox Flexion Distraction Decompression Versus Low Level Laser Therapy In Managing Knee Osteoarthritis: A Comparative Randomized Control Study.

The Efficacy of Cox Flexion Distraction Decompression versus Low Level Laser Therapy in Managing Knee Osteoarthritis: A Comparative Randomized Control Study. Luigi Albano1, Chad A. Sutherland2, Aidan Potvin2, Jim R. Potvin31 Walkerville Chiropractic, Windsor, Ontario, Canada2 University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada3 McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative, “wear and tear” joint disease, and the most commonform of arthritis. Symptomatic knee OA (KOA) affects over 14 million people in the US. Symptoms of OA, combined with associated walking disability, increases the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease. Increasing physical activity for people diagnosed with KOA reduces knee pain, and therefore, it is imperative for health care practitioners to find new rehabilitation techniques that enable patients to return to regular physical activity. The Cox Flexion Distraction Decompression (Cox® FDD) method is a newly applied, promising treatment option for people with KOA. PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of the Cox FDD in reducing knee joint pain and increasing knee joint function for individuals diagnosed with KOA. METHODS: 20 participants were placed into two treatment protocols: (1) Cox FDD (12 participants) and (2) Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT; 8 participants). All participants had a Kellgren-Lawrence grade of II or III and had no surgical history on the affected knee. Participants received 3 protocol treatments per week for 4 weeks and completed 3 questionnaires (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA index (WOMAC), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and Numeric Pain Scale), active and passive knee joint range of motion, and a timed stair climb test pre and post intervention. RESULTS: There were significant main effect of time (pre-post) showing improved outcomes for the WOMAC (p < .0005), LEFS (p < .005), Numeric Pain Scale (p < .0001), and stair climb test (p < .005). There were no significant main or interaction effects of protocol (Cox FDD – LLLT) for any of the dependent variables. CONCLUSION: Like the laser treatment, the Cox FDD protocol demonstrated positive results after 4 weeks of treatment and has the potential to become a recognized treatment option for knee OA patients.