ACL-injuryNCT07829835
Comparison of Low-Level Laser Therapy Versus Infrared Therapy in Grade II ACL Injury Rehabilitation
A study testing Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Infrared Therapy (IRT) and Standard Physiotherapy in people with ACL-injury, run by Superior University at 3 sites in Pakistan.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 15 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- ACL-injury
- What is being tested?
- Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Infrared Therapy (IRT) and Standard Physiotherapy
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesPakistan
- Study dates
- 27 Apr 2026to 3 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 15 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- Fracture of the affected knee or associated lower-limb fracture.
- Neurological or systemic disorders.
- Participants who are not medically cleared for conservative physiotherapy rehabilitation.
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country.
Pakistan3 sites
Enzee Clinic
Lahore, Punjab Province
M. Ali Medical Center
Lahore, Punjab Province
Lahore Poly Clinic
Lahore
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Versus Infrared Therapy (IRT) in Rehabilitation of Grade II Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
Read more
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.
- Conditions
- ACL-injury
- Being tested
- Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Infrared Therapy (IRT), Standard Physiotherapy
- Medical subject headings
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
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 PhysiotherapyOther
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| LLLT + Physiotherapy | Experimental | 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. Receives: Device: Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT); Other: Standard Physiotherapy |
| IRT + Physiotherapy | Active comparator | 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. Receives: Device: Infrared Therapy (IRT); Other: Standard Physiotherapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in pain intensity measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
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.
Measured: Baseline (week 0) and after 4 weeks of treatment
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in psychological readiness to return to sport measured by the ACL-RSI
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.
Measured: Baseline (week 0) and after 4 weeks of treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Sep 2026
- Study start27 Apr 2026
- Primary completion2 Sep 2026
- Study completion3 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ACL-injuryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Superior UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly allocated into two parallel treatment groups. Group A received Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) combined with standardized physiotherapy, while Group B received Infrared Therapy (IRT) combined with the same standardized physiotherapy protocol. Both groups received treatment during the rehabilitation period, and outcomes were assessed using the specified outcome measures.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Superior University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr Aneeqa Sultan, Superior University
- Investigators
- Dr Rubab Naqvi, Principal investigator, Superior university Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07829835
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SUP-ACL-LLLT-IRT-001
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 21 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Versus Infrared Therapy (IRT) in Rehabilitation of Grade II Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07829835
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SUP-ACL-LLLT-IRT-001
- Conditions
- ACL-injury
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Superior UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 27 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 2 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 3 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were randomly allocated into two parallel treatment groups. Group A received Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) combined with standardized physiotherapy, while Group B received Infrared Therapy (IRT) combined with the same standardized physiotherapy protocol. Both groups received treatment during the rehabilitation period, and outcomes were assessed using the specified outcome measures.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| LLLT + Physiotherapy | Experimental | Device: Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Other: Standard PhysiotherapyParticipants 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 PhysiotherapyParticipants 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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 15 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Fracture of the affected knee or associated lower-limb fracture.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)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.. | Device | LLLT + Physiotherapy |
| Infrared Therapy (IRT)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.. | Device | IRT + Physiotherapy |
| Standard PhysiotherapyThe 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. | Other | IRT + Physiotherapy, LLLT + Physiotherapy |
Primary outcome
Change in pain intensity measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time frame: 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.
1 secondary outcome
Change in psychological readiness to return to sport measured by the ACL-RSI
Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and after 4 weeks of treatment
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Supporting Athletes' Return to Sports After ACL Reconstruction: A Study of a Psychological Readiness Program
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Graded Exposure and Mindfulness Meditation for Patients Post-ACL Reconstruction
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Dr Rubab Naqvi principal investigator
Superior university Lahore
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Infrared Therapy (IRT) and Standard Physiotherapy in people with ACL-injury, run by Superior University at 3 sites in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in pain intensity measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) (time frame: Baseline (week 0) and after 4 weeks of treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Sep 2026.