Abstract
BackgroundSome studies have shown the effect of oral administration of curcumin on knee pain. However, limited studies are available on the effect of topical curcumin. This study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin ointment on knee pain in older adults with osteoarthritis.MethodsThis double-blind randomized placebo trial was conducted on 72 older adults with knee pain associated with osteoarthritis. The subjects were randomly assigned into an intervention and a placebo group to apply either curcumin 5% ointment or Vaseline ointment twice daily for 6 weeks. Using a Visual Analog Scale, the severity of knee pain was measured at the beginning of the study, at the end of the fourth and sixth week. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential methods.ResultsThe mean baseline knee pain intensity was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.15). The mean pain intensity was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the placebo group at the third measurement (P = 0.02). The repeated-measures analysis showed that over time, the curcumin significantly decreased the mean pain intensity in the intervention group (P = 0.001). The mixed model showed an absolute difference of 1.133 (i.e. 11.33 mm) score which signifies a medium effect size and that the patient in the intervention group achieved the minimal clinically important difference.ConclusionTopical administration of curcumin 5% ointment can significantly reduce knee pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Curcumin ointment can be used as an alternative treatment in older adults with knee pain associated with osteoarthritis.Trial registrationRetrospectively registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) (IRCT20100403003618N6, 2019-03-08), https://en.irct.ir/trial/37155
Highlights
Knee pain is one of the most common health problems in older adults
As the topical application of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is in the first line of treatments of OA and there are not many alternatives, and the problems related to the low bioavailability, low absorption, fast metabolism, and fast systemic elimination of oral curcumin [28], and since pain relief is one of the key roles of nurses [36], this study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin ointment on the severity of knee pain in older adults with osteoarthritis
The results showed that over time, the curcumin significantly decreased the mean pain intensity in the intervention group [F = 119.02, df = 1.329, and P = 0.001; Table 2]
Summary
Knee pain is one of the most common health problems in older adults. Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most important causes of chronic knee pain in older adults [1]. Steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly used medications in osteoarthritis These drugs have a wide range of cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, and hematological side effects [9]. The costs of medications and dissatisfaction with the outcomes of ordinary treatments drive many older adults to self-treatment with herbs and other traditional remedies or to switch their physician [12, 13] Treatments such as weight loss, physiotherapy, use of walking aids, pool exercises, lifestyle modifications, as well as complementary and alternative therapies such as herbal remedies have been studied and used to reduce knee pain in older adults [8, 14, 15]. Oral capsules containing a combination of curcumin and boswellic acid were effective in reducing the pain associated with osteoarthritis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin ointment on knee pain in older adults with osteoarthritis
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