Local and systemic cardiovascular effects from monochromatic infrared therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

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73 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized to receive infrared (IR) therapy or sham IR therapy (placebo) to determine its effect on local and systemic microcirculation. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and anterior knee blood flow velocity were measured during the 40 minute therapy and for 15 minutes postintervention. The results indicated that there was no increase in local and systemic blood flow with the use of IR therapy, and no detrimental cardiovascular effects were incurred.