Pain Relief and Functional Recovery in Knee Osteoarthritis Using Therapeutic Ultrasound: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, degenerative joint disease that severely impairs mobility and quality of life. With increasing interest in non-pharmacologic interventions, therapeutic ultrasound has gained attention due to its potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound compared to standard care in improving pain and function in patients with knee OA.

Aim of the Study: This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the impact of therapeutic ultrasound versus placebo ultrasound (sham therapy) on pain reduction and functional improvement in knee OA patients using the WOMAC and Oxford Knee Score (OKS).

Methodology: A total of 42 participants diagnosed with knee OA were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 21) receiving therapeutic ultrasound or the control group (n = 21) receiving sham ultrasound (device applied but without emitting sound waves). The treatment was administered by blinded physiotherapists over a period of 3 weeks (3 sessions per week). Pre- and post-treatment outcomes were measured using WOMAC and OKS. SPSS was used for statistical analysis, including paired and independent t-tests, tests of normality, and correlation analysis.

Results: The experimental group showed significant improvement in both WOMAC and OKS scores post-treatment (p < 0.001), with a greater reduction in pain and improvement in joint function compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The control group demonstrated minimal or no improvement. The WOMAC score showed a strong positive correlation pre- and post-treatment in the experimental group (r = 0.896, p < 0.001), confirming consistent therapeutic effect.

Conclusion: This randomized controlled trial confirms that therapeutic ultrasound significantly improves pain and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis compared to placebo. Ultrasound should be considered an effective, safe, and non-invasive modality in conservative OA management.