AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pulsed high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on pain, functional capacity, and gait in children with haemophilia. METHODS: Thirty children with haemophilia type A with ages ranging from 9 to 13 years were selected for this study. They were assigned randomly, into two equal treatment groups. The laser group received the traditional physical therapy programme plus active laser (total energy of 1,500 J through three phases/3 sessions/week), whereas the placebo group received the same physical therapy programme plus placebo laser over three consecutive months. Baseline and post-treatment assessments used the visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate pain, a 6-min walk test (6MWT) to evaluate functional capacity, and the GAITRite system to evaluate gait parameters. RESULTS: Children in the laser group showed significant improvement in pain, functional capacity, and gait parameters compared to those in the placebo group (p < 0.05). Post-treatment functional capacity for the laser and placebo groups were 316.6 +/- 35.27 and 288 +/- 43.3 m, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HILT is an effective modality in reducing pain, increasing functional capacity, and improving gait performance in children with haemophilic arthropathy.

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