Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of synovial joint diseases which affect old people all around the world and can lead to chronic pain and severe disability. The aim of present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of swimming exercise on MIA-induced osteoarthritis in male rats’ knee joint.

Methods: Eighteen Wistar male rats (weight of 173±1 g, 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups: intact control, monosodium Iodoacetate (MIA) only and swimming. Intra-articular injection of MIA (50µl) was applied on rats’ right knee, similarly saline was injected in left knees. Training program used in the study was swimming with moderate intensity for 28 days. After the completion of the protocol, rats were killed and both knees of the animals were assessed histopathologically. One-way ANOVA (p<0/05) and post-hoc Tukey test were used for statistical analysis of data.

Results: Results indicated that moderate swimming training for 4 weeks significantly improved osteoarthritic symptoms of rats’ knee in 3 histopathological measures of Depth Ratio of Lesions (p=0/001), Total Degeneration Width (p=0/001) and Significant Degeneration Width (P=0/001).

Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that a moderate swimming training program exerts a beneficial influence on cartilage lesions induced by monosodium iodo acetate injection. Thus, the training protocol used in this study can be recommended for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis is one of the ten debilitating diseases in developing countries. This study was designed to examine the effect of Burdock root tea on lipid profile and blood pressure in patient with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: This was a randomized one-way blinded 6- week clinical trial. Thirty-six patients (10 men and 26 women) aged 50-70 year-old with knee osteoarthritis referred to the physical medicine and rehabilitation department of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Hospitals, were selected for the study and divided into two groups randomly. For all individuals along the 42 days of study period, the same drug treatments including physiotherapy (20 an-hour sessions for both knees) and two lots of 500 mg acetaminophen twice a day and one glucosamine 500 mg once a day were considered. The intervention group received daily 3 cups of Burdock root tea Control group received 3 cups contain 150 cc boiled water daily. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and after 6 weeks the intervention to measure lipid profile parameters and their ratios before and after the intervention. Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure were also measured and analyzed. Anthropometric measurements, physical activity levels and nutrients intake were evaluated before and after intervention. Differences between the two groups and among the each group were analyzed using independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, analysis of covariance, paired sample t-test, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, sign test, chi-square and McNemar test. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis.

Results: A significant reduction in levels of total cholesterol, TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios, systolic, diastolic and mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and a significant increase in HDL-C levels was observed in intervention group compared with the control group (p<0.05). The mean and standard deviations of HDL-C, LDL-C, ratio of TC / HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C, diastolic and mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly different between the two groups at the end of the study (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results showed that Arctium lappa l. root tea consumption with reduction in blood pressure, levels of LDL-C, ratios of TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C and increase in levels of HDL-C could control and improve lipid profile and blood pressure status in patient with knee osteoarthritis (OA). But yet, the mechanism of effects of hypolipidemic and decrease in blood pressure of Arctium lappa l. is not clear, so more studies are need in this field.

Background: Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease, and the main histopathologic (pathology) tissue in the local destruction of the articular cartilage. This study was done to study the effect of eight weeks aerobic training on functional indicators and range of motion in active older men with knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: Population includes active older men with knee osteoarthritis in West Azerbaijan. 20 active men who exercised at least twice a week, into two groups of 10 patients were randomly divided. The program was performed on the subjects for 8 weeks, three times a week. Functionality was measured using three tests, and goniometer was used to measure knee range of motion. Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), and paired-sample t-test through SPSS v.22 software.
Results: Significant differences between the experimental and control groups in, knee range of motion (F= 6, p= 0.021), get up and go (F= 61, p= 0.0001), six minute walk (F= 361, p=0.000) and 8 feet time up and go (F= 561, p= 0.000) were observed. Also comparison within groups, in knee range of motion, get up and go, six minute walk and 8 feet time up and go showed a significant difference in the group aerobic (p= 0.0001).
Conclusion: Overall, eight weeks Aerobic training significantly improves functional indicators and range of motion in active older men with knee osteoarthritis.