Effect of integrated complimentary therapies on physical and psychological variables of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis: A pilot feasibility study

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have shown beneficial effects of complementary and alternative therapies such as Yoga, Ayurveda, and Naturopathy on osteoarthritis (OA), but combining these therapies will have any synergistic effect and will be feasible and safe or not is not known. Aim: This study aims to assess feasibility and compare the effect of Ayurveda and Naturopathy as an add-on to Yoga in individuals with knee OA. Materials and Methods: This study involves forty Seven individuals (21 males and 26 females) in the age range of 45.19 ± 3.39, suffering from knee OA since 3.37 years admitted in a residential holistic therapy hospital. They were allocated into one of the three treatment programs based on their preference and clinician's advice: (a) Yoga (n = 16), (b) Yoga + Ayurveda (n = 21), and (c) Yoga + Naturopathy (n = 10). Assessments were done at baseline and after 1 week of respective treatment program using knee injury and OA outcome score (KOOS), perceived stress scale, visual analog scale for pain intensity, and stiffness index. Furthermore, physiological and anthropometric measures were assessed. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA for within and between groups comparison, respectively, using SPSS version 10.0. Results: No side effects were reported by the individuals in any of the groups. Within-group comparisons showed significant improvement in all the variables except blood pressure in all the three groups and body mass index, heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate in Yoga + Naturopathy group. Between-group comparison showed significant improvement in Yoga group as compared to Yoga + Naturopathy group for KOOS subscale - sports function (P = 0.049; F = 3.24) and for HR (P = 0.025, F = 4.014) in Yoga group as compared to Yoga + Ayurveda group. Conclusion: Addition of Ayurveda and Naturopathy to Yoga therapy for short-term treatment was found to be safe and feasible. Seven days of Yoga therapy improved clinical symptoms, anthropometric measures, and psychological states of individuals with knee OA.