Osteoarthritis Therapy: Which is More Effective, Laser Therapy or a Combination of TENS IR

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disorder characterized by cartilage degeneration, commonly affecting older individuals. Knee OA is one of the most frequently encountered forms and often leads to chronic pain and impaired mobility. Non-pharmacological interventions have been increasingly utilized to manage OA symptoms, particularly pain. Among these are Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), and Infrared (IR) therapy. These modalities aim to decrease pain severity and improve the quality of life. This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of LLLT and the combined application of TENS and IR in alleviating knee pain in OA patients at RSI A. Yani Hospital, Surabaya Method and Result: A quantitative approach was applied using a twogroup post-test-only experimental design to analyze the influence of independent treatments on pain reduction. The study was conducted from February to August 2024. Participants were selected through purposive sampling based on predefined criteria. Data normality was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Since the data were not normally distributed, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine statistical differences between the two treatment groups. The statistical analysis using the MannWhitney test yielded a p-value of 0.417 (p > 0.05), indicating no significant difference in pain reduction between the LLLT group and the TENS+IR group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that both LLLT and the combined use of TENS and IR are equally effective in managing knee pain in osteoarthritis patients. As neither treatment showed superior outcomes, both can be considered valid non-pharmacological options in OA pain management protocols. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longitudinal assessment are recommended to confirm and expand upon these findings.