Aromatherapy (Lavender essential oil) significantly reduced fatigue in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Thus, due to the high prevalence of knee osteoarthritis, this method is recommended to patents with osteoarthritis because of its availability, security, and cost-effectiveness.

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<b><i>Background:</i></b> Knee osteoarthritis is the most common articular disease, and non-medical treatment of this disease has attracted the attention of researchers. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of aromatherapy and massage therapy on knee pain, morning stiffness, daily life function, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This is a clinical trial. In this study, 93 patients referred to the Imam Ali Hospital (Physical Therapy Clinic) who entered the study were randomly divided into three groups including massage therapy (<i>n</i> = 31), aromatherapy (<i>n</i> = 31), and the control (<i>n</i> = 31). The data gathering tools were a demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed before intervention and at the 5th and 10th sessions after intervention in all three groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 20, and Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, repeated measures test, one-way ANOVA test, and Tukey’s post hoc test were used for analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The study shows that mean score subscale Symptoms and dryness in the 5th session and 10th session of intervention in the aromatherapy group is significantly higher than in the control group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). The massage therapy group had the highest pain score at the beginning of the intervention, but at the end of the 10th session of intervention had the least pain score. Mean score subscale Performance of daily life in the 5th session and 10th session of intervention in the aromatherapy group is significantly higher than in the control group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). Mean score in the subscale Performance, exercise, and recreational activities significantly differs between the aroma therapy and massage therapy groups compared with the control group in all times of interventions (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05), and in the mean score in the subscale Quality of life, there is no significant difference between the groups in all times of interventions (<i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The use of both massage therapy and aromatherapy is recommended for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Interventions should be prolonged for at least 6 months in patients so their effects appear on the patient.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most prevalent diseases of the central nervous system and a category of neurological disorders in which myelin covers of nerves in the brain and spinal cord are locally destroyed and inflamed. Depression is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder, and anxiety is also highly prevalent over MS patients. This research is aimed to study the anxiety and depression frequencies over MS patients. Methods: This is a descriptive-sectional research performed on 132 patients diagnosed with MS by a neurologist in Rafsanjan, Iran. The Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) by Spielbergeret al. were applied to measure the depression and anxiety, respectively. The disability level was also determined using the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), according to clinical visits and patient histories. The data were then analyzed using SPSS17 in both inferential and descriptive statistics. Results: This research was performed on 132 MS patients including 36 males (27.2%) and 96 females (72.8%). The 21 -40 year-old patient group included the largest portion of the research population. The depression and the state-trait anxiety were evaluated in relation to variables such as their age, gender, occupation, marital status, academic level, taken medications, course of treatment, and disability level. Final results indicated that the state-trait anxiety and depression are not significantly related to the abovementioned factors. Conclusions: It can be concluded that although these factors seem to be somehow influential, no significant effects were found, except between state anxiety and gender, and between depression and marital status.

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