The effect of mud therapy on pain relief in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

J Int Med Res. 2013 Oct;41(5):1418-25. doi: 10.1177/0300060513488509. Epub 2013 Sep 5.

Abstract

Objectives: A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effect of mud therapy on pain relief in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A detailed search of PubMed®/MEDLINE® was undertaken to identify randomized controlled trials and prospective comparative studies published before 9 March 2013 that compared mud therapy with control group treatments in patients with knee OA.

Results: A quantitative meta-analysis of seven studies (410 patients) was performed. There was a significant difference between the groups in the visual analogue scale pain score (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.73) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain score (SMD -0.30), with differences in favour of mud therapy.

Conclusions: Mud therapy is a favourable option for pain relief in patients with knee OA. Additional high-quality randomized controlled trials need to be conducted to explore this issue further and to confirm this conclusion.

Keywords: Pain; knee; meta-analysis; mud therapy; osteoarthritis.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Databases, Bibliographic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Mud Therapy*
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / complications
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / physiopathology
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / therapy*
  • Pain / complications
  • Pain / physiopathology*
  • Pain Management / methods*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Prospective Studies
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic