Thermophysiological responses to capacitive resistive monopolar radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joint: A randomised controlled experimental study

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effect of 448 kHz capacitive resistive monopolar radiofrequency (CRMRF) on the superficial and deep physiological responses of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee(s). Forty-five patients diagnosed with OA in their knee(s) were enrolled into a three-group randomised controlled study, from the waiting list of a local hospital. They received localized treatment with either CRMRF, CRMRF placebo or a control (no treatment) to the knee for 15 minutes. Pre, post, and 20 min follow-up measurements of skin temperature (SKT) and skin blood flow (SBF) were obtained from the knee using the FlexComp Infiniti (SA7550) physiological measurement system. Pre and post-treatment deep blood flow were recorded using Doppler ultrasound. Core temperature, blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) were concurrently monitored. Group data were compared using the ANOVA model. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05, 0.8 power, and 95% CI. Significant increases and sustenance of SKT and SBF, and significant increases in volume and intensity of deep blood flow were demonstrated with CRMRF over the placebo and control interventions in all comparisons (p< .001). No meaningful changes in blood flow velocity, core temperature, BP, or PR were noted for any condition. The findings were markedly more pronounced than those previously reported in asymptomatic adults. However, the patients had received a higher average dose of CRMRF (mean (SD): 46.87 (4.08) W) compared to the asymptomatic sample (mean (SD): 42.37 (4.64) W); therefore, further research is needed to better understand the differences in physiological responses between patients and asymptomatic people.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrophysical agents
• radiofrequency treatment
• osteoarthritis of knee
• blood flow
• skin temperature

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the patients and the clinical and administrative staff at the Safari Therapy Unit, Hemel Hempstead Hospital for helping with this study. The authors acknowledge Indiba S. A., Barcelona, Spain for funding this study.

Author contributions

The first author (BK) is responsible for the acquisition and analysis of data and writing up this manuscript. The second author (TW) is responsible for the critical revision of this manuscript and the conception and overall supervision of this research project. Both authors are responsible for the design of the study. Both authors have approved the final version of this manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work, its accuracy, and integrity. The authors also confirm that all persons designated as authors qualify for authorship, and all those who qualify for authorship are listed.

Declaration of interest

The University of Hertfordshire are in receipt of an industry-linked research funding related to this program of research from Indiba S. A. (Barcelona, Spain). The industry funders had no role in the study design, data collection, and data analysis or in the preparation of this manuscript.