Symptoms-modifying effects of electromotive administration of glucosamine sulphate among patients with knee osteoarthritis

Background: Most trials on symptom-modifying effects of glucosamine are limited to administration through oral route with dearth of empirical data on the use of electromotive force. Objective: The study determined the effects of glucosamine sulphate (GS) iontophoresis (IoT) on radiographic parameters of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Fifty-three patients were randomly assigned to three groups. About 1 g each of GS was administered using IoT and cross-friction massage (CFM) for participants in groups 1 (IoT) and 2 (CFM), respectively. Group 3 ((Combined therapy) CoT) received 1 g of GS using both IoT and CFM. Interventions were twice a week for 12 weeks. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data ( p < 0 . 0 5 ). Results: After 12 weeks, the medial joint space width (JSW) of the CFM group was significantly higher than that of IoT and CoT groups ( p = 0 . 0 0 5 and p = 0 . 0 0 4 ). Lateral JSW of IoT group was significantly higher than both CFM ( p = 0 . 0 0 1 ) and CoT groups ( p = 0 . 0 1 ). There were significant decreases in pain intensities; increase in knee flexion and physical functions across the groups ( F = 9 . 3 3 , p = 0 . 0 1 ; F = 3 . 2 3 , p = 0 . 0 1 ; H = 4 . 9 7 , p = 0 . 0 1 , respectively). Conclusion: It was concluded that there were significant decreases in the degenerative changes at the knee joint.