Comparison of the Effectiveness of Aromatherapy Massage with Ginger and Sesame Oil on Joint Pain and Stiffness in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of aromatherapy massage with ginger and sesame oil on joint pain and stiffness in patients with knee joint osteoarthritis. Methods: This study was performed as a single-blind randomized clinical trial. Ninety patients with osteoarthritis were selected via convenience sampling from patients referring to rheumatology clinics affiliated with Birjand University of Medical Sciences. The subjects were randomly assigned into three groups: massage with oils ginger and sesame, and a control group (no massage). Symptoms were assessed using the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Arthritis Scale (WOMAC) index at baseline at three stages after the intervention (immediately, two weeks, and four weeks). Data analysis was performed with SPSS19 using Chisquare, Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: The findings of the study revealed that the mean pain scores in the ginger and sesame oil groups had a decreasing course before and immediately after the intervention compared to 2 weeks after the intervention. However, the changes in mean score showed an increase again 4 weeks after the intervention (P<0.001). The mean score of joint stiffness in the ginger group suggested a decreasing course before intervention compared to immediately after and two weeks after intervention but showed an increase in changes in the mean score four weeks after intervention (P<0.001). Moreover, the mean score of joint stiffness showed a decreasing course in the sesame group before intervention compared to immediately after intervention but showed an increase in the mean score again two weeks and four weeks after intervention (P<0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that aromatherapy massage with ginger and sesame oils are both effective in improving joint pain and stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis; nonetheless, ginger is more effective in improving joint stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis. Moreover, ginger oil is more stable than sesame oil.