Effects of Uygur sand therapy on bone mechanical properties of femurs of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis

This paper aims to investigate the effects of Uygur sand therapy on bone mechanical properties of femurs of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods The OA model was established by injecting papain in right posterior femoral articular cavity of 16 New Zealand rabbits. Rabbits were then divided into the sand therapy group and control group. The sand therapy group underwent the sand therapy in a place that simulated the Turpan sand therapy field, 2 times per day, 30 mm per dine for 4 weeks. The control group did not receive the sand therapy. Femurs of rabbits were scanned by CT and data was collected. Interactive medical image control system (MIMICS) was used to analyze and compare the volume of each bone layer (soft bone, compact bone, and cortical bone) of two groups. The data of CT scans and results of three-point bending tests were summarized and compared. The sand therapy has positive effects on the volume distribution of bone layer and mechanical properties of femurs of adult OA rabbits.