Adelaide Cold Laser
Knee osteoarthritis: could cold laser be worth discussing?
A conservative photobiomodulation option that may be considered for knee osteoarthritis symptoms.
Published placebo-controlled research has examined photobiomodulation, also called low-level laser therapy or cold laser, for knee osteoarthritis. Research suggests it may help some pain and function outcomes, but suitability and individual responses vary.
Knee osteoarthritis information
Go deeperCondition in plain English
What is knee osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis involves changes in the knee joint that may include cartilage wear, joint-line irritation, and reduced tolerance for ordinary movement. People may notice knee pain, stiffness, or difficulty with walking, stairs, or standing, but these experiences do not confirm a diagnosis.
Other problems may present as knee pain. Assessment helps clarify whether GP review, exercise or load management, physiotherapy, imaging discussion, medication advice, or orthopaedic review should be considered.
Adelaide Cold Laser does not diagnose knee osteoarthritis from symptoms alone, prescribe medication, order imaging, or replace medical or orthopaedic care where that is needed. Cold laser therapy does not regrow cartilage or reverse osteoarthritis.
All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Illustration only. Application context for the knee joint region. Not a promise of result.
Care boundary
When should medical assessment come first?
Seek medical assessment before routine cold laser care if knee symptoms are sudden, severe, unexplained, linked to significant injury, or accompanied by inability to bear weight, marked swelling, redness, warmth, fever, locking, giving way, or another concerning change.
If the diagnosis is uncertain, a GP may assess whether investigation, medication discussion, physiotherapy, or orthopaedic referral is appropriate. Photobiomodulation does not replace those pathways.
This information is general and does not replace medical advice. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Where PBM sits
How may cold laser fit into care for knee osteoarthritis?
Research suggests photobiomodulation may help some knee osteoarthritis pain and function measures. The evidence includes systematic reviews of placebo-controlled trials, but it does not show that everyone will respond or that cold laser should replace established care.
Knee osteoarthritis is generally managed with conservative approaches first: exercise, load management, physiotherapy, weight and activity advice where relevant, and GP or orthopaedic care when indicated. Adelaide Cold Laser positions PBM as one option that may be considered alongside those approaches, not as a replacement for them.
We do not publish visit counts, frequency plans, or predicted timelines. Those questions are handled case by case after assessment. Curious how the therapy itself works? See What is cold laser therapy?
All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Your first visit
What happens at an initial consultation?
History and assessment. Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) listens to your concern, reviews relevant history and prior care, and assesses the knee presentation without assuming every knee-pain pattern is osteoarthritis.
Suitability discussion. You discuss suitability, evidence limits, and whether another pathway should come first or continue alongside cold laser. If care is appropriate, the next step is agreed with you. Where possible, treatment is provided on your first visit.*
Pricing and autonomy. Initial consultation $99. Standard visits $120. Cold laser is private pay and is not covered by private health fund rebates. No lock-in plans. The decision is always yours.
The device. Treatment is delivered with the Multi Radiance MR5 ACTIV PRO, included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG 370913). The register entry is a supply listing for the device category. It is not an efficacy endorsement. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
*Where possible, treatment is provided on your first visit. This is subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability, and cold laser may not be suitable for everyone. Individual responses vary.
The evidence, in full
What does the research say?
Systematic reviews of placebo-controlled trials suggest photobiomodulation may help some knee osteoarthritis pain or function measures. The studies used different protocols and parameters. Their findings do not predict an individual response or establish that every device and protocol is equivalent.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 placebo-controlled randomised trials (1,063 participants) in knee osteoarthritis. PBM reduced pain and disability measures compared with placebo when studied parameters were considered.
Supports a hedged claim that PBM may help some pain and function measures. Not a personal outcome promise. PMID 31662383
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 placebo-controlled randomised trials (542 participants) in knee osteoarthritis. PBM reduced pain at rest compared with placebo, with cautious interpretation because the certainty of evidence was very low.
Keeps PBM positioned as a complement to recommended care, not a stand-alone answer. PMID 38775202
Research summaries describe group findings, not a promise of individual results. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Broader care frame
How may cold laser fit with other care?
Options may be complementary. The appropriate route depends on diagnosis, health history, goals and response.
Assessment, diagnosis and referral where indicated. Ask what needs clarification before choosing care.
Support mobility, strength and activity tolerance. Ask which activities fit this presentation.
Guided exercise, joint care and functional progression. Ask whether a physio pathway should continue alongside PBM.
When structural or surgical assessment is clinically appropriate. Cold laser does not replace that pathway.
One device-based option studied for selected presentations. Ask how well the evidence fits the diagnosis and wider plan.
Cold laser is one option, not a replacement for medical care. Photobiomodulation does not replace GP care, imaging, medication advice, physiotherapy, exercise guidance, or orthopaedic review when those are clinically appropriate.
All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Common questions
Knee osteoarthritis and cold laser, answered.
Can cold laser therapy help knee osteoarthritis?
Research suggests photobiomodulation may help reduce pain and improve function measures for some people with knee osteoarthritis. It does not reverse osteoarthritis or regrow cartilage, and individual responses vary.
Will it replace exercise or medical care?
No. Exercise, load management, GP advice, physiotherapy, and orthopaedic review may all be relevant depending on your presentation. PBM may be considered as a complement to recommended care, not a replacement for it.
How many visits will I need?
That is not estimated in public information. Your presentation, goals, and response need to be assessed before any care plan is discussed. Adelaide Cold Laser does not use lock-in plans.
Is cold laser therapy covered by private health fund rebates?
No. Cold laser therapy at Adelaide Cold Laser is not covered by private health fund rebates. The initial consultation is $99, and standard visits are $120.
What device do you use?
Adelaide Cold Laser uses the Multi Radiance MR5 ACTIV PRO, included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG 370913). That register wording is not a claim that the device will produce a particular result for any individual person. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
Ready when you are
Would you like to talk it through?
Book an initial consultation to discuss your knee presentation, the evidence, other care you may need, and whether cold laser is worth considering.
Initial consultation $99 · standard $120 · no lock-in
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor)
BSc, MChiro (Macquarie University)
Cold Laser: Initial Consultation
$99 · 30 min · Plympton Park
A first cold laser consultation with Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) at 528 Marion Road, Plympton Park.
Your first visit
Book your consultation
- No lock-in plans
- Treatment on your first visit where possible*
- The decision is always yours
Book a Consultation
Prefer to talk first? Call (08) 8297 5277, or send us a message.
Booking a consultation does not mean treatment is suitable or required. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Get in touch
Still weighing it up?
Ask us anything you like about knee osteoarthritis, knee pain, or whether cold laser may be worth discussing. We will do our best to let you know whether it may be a reasonable option for you.
All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. This is general information, not medical advice. Individual responses vary.