Laser therapy
Intra-articular laser therapy Lugano
Direct irradiation of joint tissue with a catheter, in chronic joint pain. Indication after a specialist visit.
- A catheter in the joint, light on the tissue
- Wavelength chosen at the visit, for the tissue treated
- Can sit alongside injectable therapies such as PRP when there is an indication
How it is applied
The catheter
A catheter takes laser light into dysfunctional joint tissue: nerves, cartilage, bone.
The wavelength
It is chosen at the visit, for the tissue being treated: the bands and why are on the Laser therapy page.
Combination with PRP
To support the effect it can sit alongside injectable therapies, including platelet-rich plasma. It is not a superiority comparison: the choice is made at the visit.
Intravenous laser
Light in the blood is a different route from the catheter in a joint. That technique is on the intravenous page.
Joints we assess
Knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, when there is an indication for laser in the joint tissue.
Hip
Hip osteoarthritis, in the same frame of direct tissue irradiation.
Shoulder
Chronic shoulder syndrome, after a specialist assessment.
Ankle
Ankle osteoarthritis, when the intra-articular catheter is the mode chosen at the visit.
Note
In invasive applications local anaesthetic is used at the entry point. The contraindications, listed on the Laser therapy page, are checked at the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is it painful?
Local anaesthetic is used at the catheter entry point.
Is it combined with PRP?
Yes, when there is an indication. Drawing and injecting plasma are described on the PRP and laser page.
What do the studies say?
The controlled trials concern laser applied to the skin: in knee osteoarthritis it reduced pain and disability compared with placebo (22 trials, Stausholm 2019); in shoulder tendinopathy it relieved pain (Haslerud 2015). For laser brought into the joint through the catheter there is so far a preliminary series of five volunteers (Weber 2024).
How many sessions are needed?
The number of sessions is decided with you at the visit, according to the complaint and how you respond to treatment.
How long does a session last?
Usually 30–45 minutes. The main indications are osteoarthritis of the knee, hip and shoulder.
Is it covered by insurance?
The physician holds the RME quality label for acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and in Ticino the practice bills complementary insurers: with complementary insurance, under certain conditions, the treatment can be reimbursed. Patients with basic insurance only receive a clear cost estimate at the visit and pay directly.
Scientific sources
- Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4:337–361. doi:10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337
- Navratil L, Kymplova J. Contraindications in noninvasive laser therapy: truth and fiction. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 2002;20:341–343. doi:10.1089/104454702320901134
- Stausholm MB, et al. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy on pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials. BMJ Open. 2019;9:e031142. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031142
- Haslerud S, et al. The efficacy of low-level laser therapy for shoulder tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Physiother Res Int. 2015;20:108–125. doi:10.1002/pri.1606
- Weber M, et al. Intra-Articular Exosome and Intraarticular Laser Therapy for Osteoarthritis; Preliminary Non-Surgical Approach. Sch J App Med Sci. 2024;12(5):607–616. doi:10.36347/sjams.2024.v12i05.016
More sources on the page Laser therapy.
Related treatments
This therapy is part of Laser therapy.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
For musculoskeletal pain the practice follows several routes, often combined. The specialist visit, with ultrasound when needed, clarifies which one is indicated in your case.
Rheumatology
Diagnosis and treatment plan: the first visit when the pain is in the joints, back or tendons.
Acupuncture
Needles, needle-free laser or ear acupuncture, performed by a specialist physician.
Interventional pain therapy
Ultrasound-guided injections of joints and soft tissues, with hyaluronic acid or PRP when indicated.
PRP for joints and tendons
Plasma prepared from the patient's own blood and injected into tendons and joints.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. The indication, expected benefits and risks of every treatment are assessed individually during the specialist consultation.
Let's assess intra-articular laser together
Indication and mode are defined after the specialist consultation.
We accept referrals and second-opinion requests from your physician, via HIN. dr.djordjevic@hin.ch
How to reach us
In Lugano, a short walk from USI and EOC
The practice is centrally located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, also reachable by car and by train from Mendrisio, Bellinzona, Locarno and Chiasso.
By car: the practice's own car park is right in front. By public transport: a short walk from USI.
Address
Via Alessandro Volta 1
6900 Lugano
Opening hours
Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
Saturday and Sunday closed
Phone
The interactive map is Google’s and loads only with a click. Privacy · © OpenStreetMap