The effect of sheep ghee on pain, stiffness, physical function, and range of motion of the knee joint in older people with osteoarthritis of the knee.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is a form of joint disease, particularly in the knee. Owing to the components of the sheep ghee, it can play a critical role in reducing pain and inflammation. This study aimed to determine how treatment of the knee joint with sheep ghee can affect stiffness, pain, range of motion, and physical function. METHODS: This study used a three-group quasi-experimental design in which 75 older patients with knee osteoarthritis were selected purposefully. Physical function, stiffness, and pain intensity were assessed via WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index). Pain intensity was also assessed by the visual analogue scale. The range of motion the before and after the operation was recorded as well. Ghee was applied to the painful areas in the intervention group. The placebo group received Vaseline, whereas the control group received only a 1-min normal massage. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the WOMAC pain scores between the intervention and placebo groups before and after the intervention, and both sheep ghee and Vaseline reduced pain, with the sheep ghee group showing greater pain reduction than the Vaseline group. CONCLUSION: Ghee was found to reduce joint stiffness and pain and improve knee range of motion and physical function in older people. Sheep ghee can be used in combination with pharmaceutical methods as a non-pharmacological treatment.