Effects of geotherapy and phytotherapy associated with kinesiotherapy in the knee osteoarthritis: randomized double blind study

Abstract

Geotherapy is the therapeutic use of clay materials which are defined as natural earths that have different minerals in their composition. Objective: This work aimed to compare the pain, mobility, weight-bearing, and functional impairment in individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis who had undergone two types of physiotherapy treatments: the first group associated Geotherapy with Kinesiotherapy (GGK) and second group associated Geotherapy and Phytotherapy with Kinesiotherapy (GGFK). Method: This study was a randomized double-blind clinical trial, which was attended by 25 individuals of both sexes aged over 43 years; they underwent 10 sessions lasting 45 minutes each. The individuals performed the assessments to check for pain by using a visual analogue scale (VAS); to assess functional mobility, the test Timed Up and Go (TUG) test; to assess disability and symptoms, the Lequesne Algo functional questionnaire; and finally the Nintendo Wii Fit®, to measure weight-bearing between members. Results: The results showed that only the GGFK had improved functional mobility. Both groups improved the intensity of pain and symptoms after the intervention and that improvement in GGFK was superior for symptoms in relation to GGK. Both groups showed a reduction in the intensity of pain and symptoms after the intervention, and the GGFK improvement was greater than the GGK for symptoms of Osteoarthritis (OA). Neither group showed any improvement in weight-bearing. Conclusion: It was concluded that geotherapy and phytotherapy associated with kinesiotherapy can be beneficial in reducing the pain and functional impairment associated with knee OA.