Objective: High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) is a relatively new form of Nd: YAG laser. The aim of the study is to investigate the additional benefits of HILT with conventional physiotherapy, related to pain and function, in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Method: The study comprised 43 knees from 31 patients of both genders with mean age 54.6 ± 6.22 (41–64) years. 53.49% of the knees were Kellgren Lawrence (KL) grade 2, and rest were KL grade 3 KOA. Group 1 ( n = 21) received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), hot packs (HP), exercises (EX), and HILT (Nd: yag-laser, 10 W). Group 2 ( n = 22), received the same interventions but placebo HILT. All interventions were applied for 10 sessions. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario & McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Questionnaire (WOMAC), and Lequesne Algofunctional Index (LAI) were administered before, after, and at 12-week follow-up. Results: Baseline VAS, WOMAC, and LAI scores of the groups were similar ( p > 0.05). After treatment and 12 weeks of follow-up, both groups had significant relief for VAS, WOMAC, LAI pain (respectively, p < 0.001) and function ( p < 0.012), except LAI-walking distance ( p = 0.415). Post-hoc analyses and mixed-effects models showed no significant differences between groups over time for all variables. Conclusions: HILT did not provide additional short- or mid-term benefits in pain or function when added to a conventional physiotherapy and exercise program in patients with stage 2 or 3 knee osteoarthritis under 65 years of age.

Background/Objectives: Peripheral nerve conduction abnormalities may occur after stroke, but their clinical relevance in chronic hemiplegia remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize these abnormalities and examine their associations with motor and functional outcomes. Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional observational study included 72 patients with unilateral hemiplegia ≥ 6 months after ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Bilateral lower-extremity nerve conduction studies (NCS) were performed in all participants. In participants without findings suggestive of distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP), bilateral upper-extremity NCS were also performed to assess focal entrapment neuropathies; when DSP was suspected from lower-extremity findings, one upper extremity was examined to confirm upper-extremity involvement. Clinical assessments included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Functional Independence Measure, Timed Up and Go test, and computerized posturographic fall-risk assessment. Associations between NCS findings and clinical outcomes were examined using adjusted regression analyses. Results: Mean age was 61.75 ± 12.56 years, and stroke duration was 42.85 ± 38.14 months. Normal NCS findings were present in 18 (25.0%) patients. Most participants (86.1%) had high posturographic fall-risk. DSP was identified in 38 participants (52.8%). The most frequent focal neuropathy was median nerve entrapment at the wrist (17/72, 23.6%). DSP was more frequent in participants with diabetes than in those without diabetes (85.7% vs. 31.8%; p < 0.001). Ulnar sensory nerve action potential amplitude was lower on the paretic side (adjusted p = 0.028). Neither DSP nor median nerve entrapment was significantly associated with motor function, functional mobility, or functional independence in adjusted analyses; posturographic fall-risk classifications also did not differ according to these NCS findings in unadjusted exact tests. Conclusions: Peripheral nerve conduction abnormalities, particularly DSP and median nerve entrapment, were common in ambulatory individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiplegia. Despite their frequency, no statistically significant associations with motor or functional performance were identified, although clinically meaningful associations cannot be excluded.