Fast Relief of Acute Musculoskeletal Pain in Different Body Parts Following Exercise - A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Human Study with Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata Extracts

Abstract

Acute pain in different parts of the body viz., head and neck, trunk, upper and lower limbs tend to be perceived differently. A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study was conducted on 232 healthy participants with acute musculoskeletal pain. The participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a single dose of 1000 mg of Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata extract formulation (CBF, Rhuleave-K) or placebo. The participants were categorized according to the location of the pain- head and neck, upper limb, lower limb, trunk, and general body following exercise. Pain intensity was analyzed using a numerical rating scale (NRS) at intervals of 30 minutes up to 6 hours. NRS was taken at rest, on movement and applying pressure on the affected part. The perceptible pain relief (PPR) and meaningful pain relief (PPR) was assessed using the double stopwatch method. In the CBF group, the pain intensity in the head and neck region had a 100% reduction at rest, on movement and pressure (p=0.02) and in generalized body pain, 100% at rest and movement and 97% reduction on applying pressure (p=0.06). Pain in the upper limb, trunk, and lower limb respectively showed a significant reduction of 99%, 97%, and 97% (p<0.001) in the CBF group at rest, on movement and pressure whereas the placebo group showed negligent change. The PPR and MPR obtained at head and neck (40, 160 min), upper limb (52, 167 min), trunk (75, 216 min), lower limb (74, 175 min), and generalized body pain (75, 240 min) in CBF group were significantly faster than the placebo group (p<0.001). CBF can be recommended as a fast-acting alternative to current therapies for acute musculoskeletal pain affecting head and neck, upper and lower limbs, trunk, and general body pain.