Effects of phonophoresis of Aloe vera gel and ultrasound on knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

IntroductionThe present study aimed to investigate the effect of phonophoresis of Aloe vera gel (PHA) on pain intensity and functional status in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). MethodsPatients with knee OA (n = 51, age 45–70 years) who had a pain severity score of 5 or more on a numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and Kellgren-Lawrence grades of 1–3 were randomly allocated to 3 groups: PHA, therapeutic ultrasound (US) or sham US with Aloe vera gel (ShUSA) (17 in each group). Ultrasound treatment in the PHA and US groups was used in pulsed mode at an intensity of 1.5 W/cm2 and a frequency of 1 MHz. Gel containing 2 % Aloe vera was used in the PHA and ShUSA groups, and an acoustic, nondrug gel was used in the US group. In all groups, treatment was given 5 days a week for 2 weeks in sessions lasting 5 min. All patients also received the same knee joint exercise program. Scores on a 10-point NPRS and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) were recorded before treatment, 2 days and 1 month after the last treatment session. ResultsThe NPRS and total WOMAC scores were significantly improved 2 days and 1 month after treatment in all groups (p < 0.05), with no significant differences among them. ConclusionsPain severity and functional status in patients with knee OA improved significantly after treatment with PHA, US and ShUSA. However, none of these methods was superior to the others.