Science & citations

The research, without the confetti.

Good Knee uses 660nm red light and 850nm near-infrared light because those wavelengths sit inside the clinical photobiomodulation literature. The evidence is promising, but not magic. Magic has a worse refund policy.

Medical boundary

Good Knee supports at-home recovery. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease, and it does not replace medical care, physical therapy, or advice from a clinician.

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 2024

A systematic review and network meta-analysis on the optimal wavelength of low-level light therapy in knee osteoarthritis

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of 13 randomized trials totaling 673 participants with knee osteoarthritis. The authors found low-level light therapy was superior to sham for knee pain, while also rating the certainty of evidence as low or very low depending on wavelength group.

Fan T, Li Y, Wong AYL, Liang X, Yuan Y, Xia P, et al. A systematic review and network meta-analysis on the optimal wavelength of low-level light therapy (LLLT) in treating knee osteoarthritis symptoms. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2024;36:203. doi:10.1007/s40520-024-02853-0.

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Scientific Reports, 2023

The effects of low-level laser therapy on muscle strength and functional outcomes in individuals with knee osteoarthritis

Double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing 660nm, 808nm, and sham treatment in 47 participants. Sessions were 15 minutes, three times per week, for eight weeks. The 808nm group showed stronger knee extensor strength results; the 660nm group improved 30-second sit-to-stand performance.

Jankaew A, et al. The effects of low-level laser therapy on muscle strength and functional outcomes in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2023;13:165. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-26553-9.

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Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia, 2011

Short-term efficacy of low-level laser therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of 47 patients with knee osteoarthritis. The laser group improved on pain and function measures over the short term, with between-group differences reported for pain at rest and Lequesne score.

Fukuda VO, Fukuda TY, Guimaraes M, Shiwa S, Lima BDC, Martins R, et al. Short-term efficacy of low-level laser therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Rev Bras Ortop. 2011;46(5):526-533. doi:10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30407-9.

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BMC Geriatrics, 2023

Laser therapy versus pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as treatment modalities for early knee osteoarthritis

Randomized controlled trial comparing low-level laser therapy with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. Both groups showed significant pain improvements; the authors reported stronger results for PEMFT on several pain and function measures.

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Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2015

Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Systematic review of nine randomized controlled trials totaling 518 patients. This is included as a useful counterweight: the authors found mixed results and did not find strong overall evidence across pooled pain and WOMAC outcomes.

Stausholm MB, Naterstad IF, Joensen J, Lopes-Martins RAB, Saebo H, Lund H, et al. Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2015;23(9):1437-1444. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2015.04.005.

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