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Pain-relieving Effects of Hot Herbal Compress in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis
Surat Lekutai*, Wichian Tansuwannon*, Suchada Sereechotchahiran*, Phadoongsuk Buakham*
*Damnoensaduak Hospital, Ratchaburi Province 70130
The present study was a quasi-experimental research study, the purpose of which was to determine the
pain-relieving effect of hot herbal compresses in knee osteoarthritis patients by comparing the severity of
pain, duration between each pain episode and difficulty in performing daily activities between three treat-
ment groups, namely, herbal compress, hot compress and isometric knee exercise. Subjects were osteoarthri-
tis patients being treated as in-patients at Damnoensaduak Hospital for five days. A questionnaire was created
to assess pain levels and the difficulty in performing daily activities before and after the treatment using the
visual analog scale. The data obtained were analyzed using paired t-test and one-way analysis of covariance.
It was found that the levels of knee pain and difficulty in performing daily activities in the three treat-
ment groups were significantly lower than the levels before receiving the treatment (p < 0.01). The scores of
knee pain, duration between each pain episode, and difficulty in performing daily activities were not signifi-
cantly different among the three groups. However, the reduction of mean pain scores during the first two days
of the hot herbal compress group was statistically significant (p < 0.01) and more rapid than the other two
groups. It is suggested that the Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine apply the results of the present study in
the clinical practice guideline for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis by using hot herbal compresses during
the first two days of treatment. When the inflammation subsides, other methods of treatment, such as hot
compress and isometric knee exercise, should then be used instead, as these two methods cost less but give
equivalent therapeutic efficacy.
Key words: herbal compress, hot compress, isometric knee exercise, knee osteoarthritis