Affiliations: [a] Denizli Governmental Hospital, Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Denizli, Turkey | [b] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey | [c] Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey
Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the
effect of mud compress (MC) therapy compared to hot pack (HP) therapy on
cartilage destruction and subchondral bone alterations detected by urine
levels of C telopeptide fragment of collagen type-II (uCTX-II) in patients
with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Fifty-nine patients between 49-74 years of age with bilateral knee
OA divided into 2 groups. Twenty-five patients (16 females, 9 males) and 34 patients
(22 females, 13 males) were given HP versus local natural organic and
mineral-rich MC therapy respectively for 2 weeks as a total of 12 sessions.
uCTX-II, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), 15 m walking time, Western Ontario and
McMaster Universities multifunctional (WOMAC) index were measured at
baseline, after-treatment and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: uCTX-II level did not show any difference between the two
groups, however it decreased significantly in MC and HP groups 3 months after
treatment (p< 0.017). WOMAC stiffness sore was significantly lower in MC
group 3 months after treatment (p< 0.05). Both MC and HP therapies lowered
VAS, WOMAC total and subscores significantly up to 3 months (p< 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: HP and MC therapies for OA of knee are not superior to
one another with respect to the level of uCTX-II. MC may probably decrease
the ongoing cartilage destruction and related subchonral bone interactions
earlier compared to HP treatment in patients with knee OA as evidenced by
decreased uCTX-II levels after-treatment.
