Effects of mud pack therapy on patients with knee osteoarthritis. A randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the effects of mud-pack therapy on perceived pain, functional capacity, severity of the condition and consumption of drugs in people diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis against a control group that continues its daily pharmacological treatment. Methods: Simple-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial. The sample (n=121) was divided randomly in an intervention group with 61 subjects (69.13±5.60 years) and a control group with 60 subjects (73.08 ± 8.90 years). The intervention group received 11 consecutive sessions of mud-pack therapy on the affected knees during 47 minutes according to the therapeutic treatment described. The control group did not receive any therapy and continued with its daily medication. The sample was assessed before and after with manual goniometry (Lafayette®,USA), digital spring scale (MICROFET 3®), perceived pain was measured through a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), functional capacity through the WOMAC questionnaire and finally, the consumption of drugs was registered, establishing a signification level of p≤ 0.05. The data was analysed using the SPSS 19.0. Results: There are statistically significant differences (p≤0.05) between the pre and post test in all the parameters. Pain which was assessed by the two scales (VAS, WOMAC) along with joint stiffness and functional capacity obtained a superior effect size than the rest. Conclusion: Mud-pack therapy can be considered as an alternative therapy in the improvement of pain and functionality in patients with knee osteoarthritis, reducing the consumption of drugs.