Comparison of Low-Level Laser Therapy Versus Infrared Therapy in Grade II ACL Injury Rehabilitation

NCT07829835 — Not applicable, Completed, 30 participants, Superior University

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Comparison of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Versus Infrared Therapy (IRT) in Rehabilitation of Grade II Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Registry	NCT07829835
Status	Completed
Phase	Not applicable
Study type	Interventional; randomized, parallel, masking: single, treatment
Enrollment	30 (Actual)
Sponsor	Superior University (Other)
Conditions	ACL-injury
Interventions	Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Infrared Therapy (IRT), Standard Physiotherapy (Device, other)
Dates	start 2026-04-27, primary completion 2026-09-02, completion 2026-09-03, first posted 2026-09-21, last updated 2026-09-21
Locations	3 sites in Pakistan

-Summary

This study is being conducted to compare two commonly used physical therapy treatments, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and infrared therapy, for people with a Grade II anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of the knee.

A Grade II ACL injury is a partial tear of the ACL, which may cause knee pain, reduced movement, weakness, and difficulty performing daily or physical activities. Rehabilitation is an important part of recovery after this type of injury. Physical therapy may help reduce symptoms and improve knee function and confidence during movement.

In this randomized controlled trial, participants with a Grade II ACL injury will be assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group will receive low-level laser therapy along with standard physiotherapy, while the other group will receive infrared therapy along with the same standard physiotherapy program.

The low-level laser therapy group will receive laser treatment in addition to exercises used in standard physiotherapy. The infrared therapy group will receive infrared treatment in addition to the same standard physiotherapy exercises. The standard physiotherapy program includes knee range-of-motion exercises, knee isometric strengthening exercises, and light aerobic exercises.

Treatment will be provided five days per week for four weeks. Participants will be assessed before treatment and again after completion of the four-week rehabilitation program.

The main outcomes of the study include pain intensity and psychological readiness to return to activity following an ACL injury. Pain will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), while psychological readiness will be assessed using the Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scale. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings will also be considered in relation to the ACL injury.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether low-level laser therapy or infrared therapy, when combined with standard physiotherapy, provides greater improvement in patients undergoing rehabilitation for Grade II ACL injury. The findings may help physiotherapists and other health care providers select an appropriate adjunct treatment during ACL rehabilitation.

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+Arms and interventions

Arm	Type	Interventions	Description
LLLT + Physiotherapy	Experimental	Device: Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT); Other: Standard Physiotherapy	Participants assigned to this group received Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) applied to the knee/ACL region, using an 808 nm wavelength and 150 mW power for 10 minutes, in addition to the standardized physiotherapy protocol. The physiotherapy program included knee isometric strengthening, range of motion exercises, proprioception and balance training, light aerobic conditioning, and manual therapy. Treatment was provided for 40 minutes per session, 5 sessions per week, for 4 weeks.
IRT + Physiotherapy	Active comparator	Device: Infrared Therapy (IRT); Other: Standard Physiotherapy	Participants assigned to this group received Infrared Therapy (IRT) applied to the knee/ACL region using a 100 W infrared lamp for 10 minutes, in addition to the same standardized physiotherapy protocol. The physiotherapy program included knee isometric strengthening, range of motion exercises, proprioception and balance training, light aerobic conditioning, and manual therapy. Treatment was provided for 40 minutes per session, 5 sessions per week, for 4 weeks.

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) (Device): low-Level Laser Therapy was applied to the knee/ACL region using an 808 nm wavelength and 150 mW power for 10 minutes per session, 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. It was administered in addition to the standardized physiotherapy program..
Infrared Therapy (IRT) (Device): Infrared therapy was applied to the knee/ACL region using a 100 W infrared lamp for 10 minutes per session, 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. It was administered in addition to the standardized physiotherapy program..
Standard Physiotherapy (Other): The standardized physiotherapy program included knee isometric strengthening, range of motion exercises, proprioception and balance training, light aerobic conditioning, and manual therapy. The program was provided in addition to the assigned treatment intervention for 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks.

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Change in pain intensity measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) [Baseline (week 0) and after 4 weeks of treatment]: Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), a 0-10 scale in which 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst imaginable pain. NPRS will be assessed at baseline (week 0) and after completion of the 4-week intervention.

Secondary outcomes

Change in psychological readiness to return to sport measured by the ACL-RSI [Baseline (week 0) and after 4 weeks of treatment]: Psychological readiness to return to sport will be assessed using the Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scale. The scale assesses psychological factors related to return to physical activity, including confidence, fear, and perceived risk. Higher scores indicate greater psychological readiness.

+Eligibility

Sex: All, ages: 15 Years to 45 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants aged 15-45 years.

* Male and female participants.
* Participants with Grade II ACL injury diagnosed through MRI as prescribed by an orthopedic surgeon or orthopedic physician.
* MRI findings confirming a partial/Grade II ACL injury following orthopedic referral.
* Positive results from ACL special tests, including the pivot-shift, anterior drawer, and Lachman tests.
* Participants with MRI findings consistent with a partial or Grade II ACL injury and clinical symptoms suggestive of ACL instability.
* Athletes participating in football, soccer, cricket, basketball, volleyball, badminton, or running.
* OPD patients.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Fracture of the affected knee or associated lower-limb fracture.

  * Neurological or systemic disorders.
  * Participants who are not medically cleared for conservative physiotherapy rehabilitation.

+Locations (3)

Facility	City	Country
Enzee Clinic	Lahore, Punjab Province	Pakistan
M. Ali Medical Center	Lahore, Punjab Province	Pakistan
Lahore Poly Clinic	Lahore	Pakistan

+Investigators

Dr Rubab Naqvi, Principal investigator, Superior university Lahore