Comparative Effects of a Single Treatment Session Using Glucosamine Sulphate and Methyl Salicylate on Pain and Hamstring Flexibility of Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Transdermal delivery of topical medications is commonly used for managing osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis of the knee joint impairs lower limb functions which contributes to poor gait patterns. There is insufficient empirical data to support the efficacy of glucosamine sulphate and methyl salicilate cream in the management of knee OA. The aims of this study were to compare the immediate effects of glucosamine sulphate and methyl salicylate cream on pain, flexibility and knee flexion. Forty one subjects with grade ll knee OA were recruited for the study. They were randomly assigned to 2 groups. One gram of each topical formulation was administered to the knee joint using massage. Pre and post-intervention pain intensities, hamstring flexibilities and active knee flexion were measured. Descriptive, paired and independent t-tests statistics were used to analyze the data. There were significant reduction in pain intensities within the groups (t = 9.08, p<0.001; t =6.29, p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the post treatments pain intensities across the two groups. There were significant increase in the flexibilities of groups 1 and 2 post treatment (t= 9.14, p<0.001) and (t= -5.67, p<0.001) respectively but there was insignificant difference in the flexibilities of the groups. Similarly, there was insignificant difference in the range of motion when the active knee flexions of the two groups were compared. We concluded that transdermal massage of glucosamine was as effective as methyl salicilate in alleviating pains, improving hamstring flexibility and increasing knee flexion range of motion in a single treatment session among knee OA participants in this study.