***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy ( LLLT ) with sham and whirlpool treatment on the contracted knee joint in rat . STUDY DESIGN / MATERIAL S AND METHODS Forty-eight Wistar rats were operated on to immobilize knee joint , and 1 week after operation they were r and omly assigned to four treatment groups : laser 40 mW ( 3.9 W/cm2 ) , laser 60 mW ( 5.8 W/cm2 ) , whirlpool ( 42 degrees C ) , and sham laser . Tunable Ga-Al-As semiconductor ( 810 nm ) laser was used for another 2 weeks of treatment . Removing and preparing bilateral hind legs , degree of knee contracture was assessed by measuring the knee flexion angle , weight of the gastrocnemius muscle , and periarticular connective tissue viscoelasticity measuring phase-lag and stiffness . RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Laser irradiation showed no significant changes except the phase-lag of laser 60 mW. Under the conditions of this study , LLLT stimulation did not provide a significant effect for minimizing the degree of experimental joint contracture over whirlpool treatment Low level laser therapy ( LLLT ) is a relatively new and increasingly popular form of electrotherapy . It is used by physiotherapists in the treatment of a wide variety of conditions including RA despite the lack of scientific evidence to support its efficacy . A r and omized , double-blind and placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of LLLT . The patient sample consisted of chronic RA patients with active finger joint synovitis . Forty RA patients with involvement of some or all of MCP or PIP joints were recruited . Following r and om allocation they received either active or placebo laser three times a week for 4 weeks . Measurements were taken prior to entry , after the treatment , 1 month and 3 months at follow-up . The groups were well matched in terms of age , sex , disease duration and severity . Few significant differences were noted in grip strength , duration of morning stiffness , joint tenderness , temperature of inflamed joints , range of movement or pain either within or between groups . Using these irradiation parameters the efficacy of LLLT  is ineffective Assess the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy on pain reduction and improvement in function in the h and s of patients with rheumatoid arthritis . A r and omized double-blind controlled trial was carried out on 82 patients with rheumatoid arthritis . The experimental group was su bmi tted to the application of laser therapy , whereas the control group received a placebo laser . Aluminum gallium arsenide laser was used , at a wavelength of 785 nm , dose of 3 J/cm2 and mean power of 70 mW. The groups were homogenous at the beginning of the study with regard to the main variables ( p > 0.05 ) . There were no statistically significant differences between groups in most of the measurements taken at the end of the intervention including the primary variables ; the following variables were the exceptions : favoring the experimental group — inflammation of the interphalangeal joint of the right thumb ( p = 0.012 ) and perimetry of the interphalangeal joint of the left thumb ( p = 0.013 ) ; and favoring the control group — flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the right fifth finger ( p = 0.021 ) , perimetry of the third proximal interphalangeal joint of the right h and ( p = 0.044 ) , grip strength in the left h and ( p = 0.010 ) , and the work domain of the Disabilities of the Arm , Shoulder and H and ( DASH ) question naire ( p = 0.010 ) . We conclude that low-level aluminum gallium arsenide laser therapy is not effective at the wavelength , dosage , and power studied for the treatment of h and s among patients with rheumatoid arthritis Low energy laser ( LEL ) is a widely used treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal disorders although convincing documentation of the effect is missing . We have examined the LEL effect on Rheumatoid Arthritis ( RA ) in a double blind placebo controlled study . Twenty-two patients completed the study ( 10 receiving LEL treatment ) according to the protocol . A significant effect on pain score was found due to LEL treatment , but when data were corrected for disease variation the effect disappeared . No effect of LEL could be demonstrated on the other assessed variables : grip strength , morning stiffness , flexibility , erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR ) , C-reactive protein ( CRP ) . In conclusion , we did not find that LEL had any clinical ly relevant effects on RA The effect of soft-laser therapy on rheumatoid arthritis was evaluated in 17 patients with symmetrical involvement of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index . Nine treatments with a He-Ne laser , 6 J/cm2 , were given on the one h and with a sham irradiation of the other . The study was double-blind . The laser therapy gave some pain relief , but no difference in morning stiffness or joint performance was obtained . It is concluded that the laser therapy is of limited value in rheumatoid arthritis 
    Output:
    
The authors found no statistically significant differences favoring the experimental group and do not recommend the use of LLLT on the h and s of patients with RA .