11pt, fleqn, a4paper, ]LegrandOrangeBook Effectiveness of a program for pain intensity and knee osteoarthritis reduction among elderly individuals in Thailand: A randomized controlled trial study

Aim: This research aimed to evaluate the effects of the Pain Intensity and Knee Osteoarthritis Reduction (PIKOR) program on pain and severity of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among elderly individuals in Thailand. Methods: : This randomized controlled trial involving 58 older adults with KOA was conducted between October 2022 and February 2023 in a northern Thai province. The participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving the PIKOR program or a control group receiving routine treatment. The PIKOR program integrated four Thai traditional medicine treatments, Court-Type Traditional Thai Massage (CTTM), Hot Herbal Compress (HHC), Legs and Knee Stretching (LKS), and Knee Poultice by Herbs (KPH), along with a reduction in the time spent by a Thai traditional doctor. Treatment outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) through independent and paired t-tests at a 95% significance level. Results: : The participants in the intervention group exhibited a more significant reduction in VAS and WOMAC mean difference scores compared to those in the control group. Improvements in VAS and WOMAC scores were observed in the intervention and control groups; however, the differences between the groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The PIKOR program demonstrated more significant reductions in pain, stiffness, and functional limitations among elderly individuals in the intervention group than in the control group. It may serve as an alternative treatment for managing KOA, especially reducing the time spent with a traditional Thai doctor.