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 patients
were randomized to two groups. Group A received tablet naproxen 500mg and capsule ginger 550mg, twice daily and group
B 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 drugs
was 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 was
observed between the groups in pain (p=0.019) and WOMAC (p=0.020) scores after 6 weeks of intervention. Moreover
there was no significant difference (p=0.914) in occurrence of adverse effects between the two groups at the end of 6 weeks
of study.
Conclusion: Ginger with naproxen can effectively treat pain and stiffness in knee osteoarthritis without added adverse
effects when compared with naproxen alone
