Effect of Ginger-Naproxen on Knee Osteoarthritis: A Clinical Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of ginger with naproxen, in treating knee osteoarthritis.Study design and setting: Randomized clinical trial conducted in medicine department OPD of National Medical Center,Karachi from 21st September 2018 till 31st March 2019.Methodology: This study was conducted on 60 patients of knee osteoarthritis. After written informed consent, the patientswere randomized to two groups. Group A received tablet naproxen 500mg and capsule ginger 550mg, twice daily and groupB was given tablet naproxen 500mg twice daily. Total 53 patients finished the study (group A: n=27 and group B: n=26).Baseline pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC)scores were noted at the beginning of study and reassessed after 6 weeks of the intervention. Safety profile of the drugswas assessed by observing adverse effects. Independent t-test was applied to check difference between the two groups.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: Before the intervention no significant difference was observed in two groups. However significant difference wasobserved between the groups in pain (p=0.019) and WOMAC (p=0.020) scores after 6 weeks of intervention. Moreoverthere was no significant difference (p=0.914) in occurrence of adverse effects between the two groups at the end of 6 weeksof study.