ISSN: 2578-4986
Authors: Tiwari S*
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease-causing significant pain, stiffness, and functional disability. Current treatments, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), offer symptomatic relief but pose risks of adverse effects. Siddha Varmam therapy, a traditional Indian medical system, offers a non-invasive alternative focusing on pain management, flexibility enhancement, and quality of life improvement for the patients. Methods: This randomized control study involved 60 adults with OA, categorized 30 each into a control group receiving standard care and an intervention group undergoing Siddha Varmam therapy. The treatment group received the Siddha Varmam therapy at Chakrasiddh, which is a Siddha centre. The intervention outcomes measured pain, stiffness, and functionality, assessed at baseline and after the intervention period. Data was collected using WOMAC and VAS scores before and after assigning them to either Siddha Varmam therapy or NSAID treatment, ensuring 81% power to detect significant changes. Data analysis involved comparing mean changes in these variables, with the significance set at P<0.05. Also, Reliability of the assessments was determined using Cronbach's Alpha. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in pain (-23.19 mm reduction, P<.001), stiffness (-21.60 mm reduction, P=.007), and functionality (-20.50 mm improvement, P=.002) compared to the control group. These findings were supported by strong correlations between changes in the “Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores (r = 0.84, P<.001). The study also demonstrated high internal consistency for both control (Cronbach's Alpha = .902) and experimental (Cronbach's Alpha = .904) groups. Conclusion: Siddha Varmam therapy significantly reduces pain, stiffness, and improves functionality in OA patients, offering a viable and effective alternative to conventional treatments. The high reliability of the outcome measures supports the therapy's potential as a holistic approach to OA management
Keywords: Osteoarthritis; Siddha Varmam Therapy; Pain Management; Flexibility; Quality Of Life; Cronbach's Alpha
