A Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial Study: The Effects of Court-Type Thai Traditional Massage versus Diclofenac on Knee Pain in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Sansila P, PhD candidate1,4, Ruangrungsi N, PhD1, Eungpinichpong W, PhD2, Buakate L, MD3
Affiliation : 1 College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand 2 Research Center in Back, Neck and Other Joint Pain, and Human Performance, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 3 Phon Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand 4 Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand
Background : Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disorder, resulting in significant mobility and health care
expenses. It affects more than 60% of Western World adults over the age of 65 years.
Objective : To compare the effectiveness of the court-type traditional Thai massage and Diclofenac on patients with osteoarthritis
of the knee.
Materials and Methods : The RCT phase II was performed. Participants were 60 adult patients with OA of the knee, randomized to
one of 12 weeks regimes of the court-type traditional Thai massage (45 min weekly) or to Diclofenac 25 mg 1x3 pc. Outcome
measures contained visual analog pain scale, timed up-and-go test, active knee range of motion, and the Western Ontario and
McMaster Universities Arthritis Index after twelve weeks.
Results : The results showed that the knee OA pain in both groups was significantly reduced.
Conclusion : There was no significant difference between the groups comparison. The study asserts that the court-type traditional
Thai massage is an efficient and practical treatment method for relief of knee OA pain.
Keywords : Court-type traditional Thai massage, Osteoarthritis, Knee pain, Randomized controlled trial
