Comparative Effectiveness of Herbal Poultice and Thai Massage on Pain in Patients with Osteoarthritis at Yang Sai Health Promoting Hospital, Sukhothai Province

Abstract

The Quasi-experimental research to compare the effectiveness of knee poultices and Thai massage in reducing pain in 70 patients with osteoarthritis at Yang Sai Health Promoting Hospital Mueang District, Sukhothai Province. Data was collected using a pain assessment questionnaires in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of 4 months. The data were analyzed as frequency, percentage, Paired Sample t-test and Independent Sample t-test. The results showed that the average pain scores of patients with osteoarthritis treated with knee poultice. Before the experiment, the average pain score for the first to third times was 4.51, 4.43 and 3.73, respectively, and average pain score was 4.51 (S.D. = 0.51). After the experiment, the average pain score for the first to third times was 3.63, 3.46 and 2.83, respectively, and average pain score was 2.83 (S.D. = 0.43). As for the Thai massage treatment, it was found that before the experiment, the average pain score for the first to third times was 4.63, 4.03 and 3.20, respectively, and average pain score was 4.63 (S.D. = 0.73). After the experiment, the average pain score for the first to third times was 3.63, 3.06 and 2.17, respectively, and average pain score was 2.17 (S.D. = 0.62). It can be seen that after the experiment, people treated with knee poultice and Thai massage. It was found that the pain level of patients with osteoarthritis decreased compared to before the three trials, in which patients with osteoarthritis who were treated with knee poultice and Thai massage had a statistically significant reduction in knee pain at the level of 0.05 (p<0.05). Therefore, it is recommended to treat patients with osteoarthritis with Thai Traditional Medicine, such as the use of knee poultice, Thai massage combined with Western Medicine or use as an alternative to treat patients with osteoarthritis will help with pain. Reduce the use of analgesic , reduce side effects of analgesic, and help patients to perform their daily routines better and improve their quality of life in a sustainable manner.