Pilot Study on a Far Infrared Ray Emitting Compression Knee Sleeve for Symptom Relief in Knee Osteoarthritis

Introduction This pilot study investigated the potential clinical benefits of a compression knee sleeve containing Far-Infrared Ray (FIR) emitting particles in patients with knee Osteoarthritis (OA). Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a single institution. Among 48 patients initially fitted with FIR knee sleeves, 22 patients (30 sleeves) had complete one-month follow-up data and were included in the analysis. Two groups were identified: (1) patients who received only the FIR knee sleeve (HA-/Sleeve+), and (2) patients who received both the FIR sleeve and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) injection concurrently (HA+/Sleeve+). Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) were collected at baseline and one-month follow-up, including the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, JR (KOOS JR), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and a Five-Point Likert Satisfaction Scale. Results At one month, both groups demonstrated improvement in knee health, pain, and satisfaction. KOOS JR scores improved by 12.27 points in the HA-/Sleeve+ group and 9.809 points in the HA+/Sleeve+ group. Pain scores decreased by 3 points and 2 points, respectively. Satisfaction scores increased by 1.416 points in the HA-/Sleeve+ group and 0.278 points in the HA+/Sleeve+ group. Improvements were greater in the HA-/Sleeve+ group across all measures. Discussion Limitations include a small sample size, an inability to ensure knee sleeve compliance, and the need for further research to explore potential synergies between knee compression, injections, and other treatments. Conclusion This preliminary study suggests that a FIR-emitting compression knee sleeve may improve symptoms in patients with knee OA. The greater improvements observed in patients who did not receive HA injections may warrant further investigation. Larger prospective, randomized studies are necessary to validate these findings and define optimal use cases for this emerging nonoperative therapy.