Publication: Combined effects of turmeric supplementation and strengthening exercises on knee pain, physical function and quality of life among knee osteoarthritis patients
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Date
2025-07
Authors
Ramakrishnan, Bawani
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Abstract
Strengthening exercises improve the physical function and quality of life (QoL) of individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In addition, the ingestion of turmeric supplementation has been shown to have pain-relieving properties, which indirectly improve physical function and QoL. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the combined effects of turmeric supplements and strengthening exercises on knee pain, physical function, and QoL in knee OA patients. A total of 35 grade II or III knee OA patients (59.0 ± 1.0 years old) were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups: the placebo and strengthening exercise (PE) group (n = 17) and turmeric supplementation and exercise (TE) group (n = 18). Participants in the PE group consumed one capsule of placebo (300 mg of maltodextrin), whereas participants in the TE group consumed one capsule of turmeric (697 mg) daily for 12 weeks. Participants in both groups followed the same strengthening exercise prescription for 12 weeks, three times per week. Measurements were carried out at pre-test, mid-test, and post-test, which included anthropometric measurements, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and administration of the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Malay version (WHOQOL-BREF), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). As a result, the VAS-pain score significantly decreased in both groups at post-test, with the pain score in the TE group significantly lower at post- test compared to the PE group (p < 0.001). For walking
distance during the 6MWT, it was significantly increased (p < 0.05) at mid- and post-test in TE group only. In addition, the walking distance was significantly higher compared to the PE group (p < 0.001). WOMAC-pain scores in the TE group significantly decreased at mid- and post-test, while in the PE group, they were significantly reduced only at post-test (p < 0.05). Furthermore, WOMAC-pain scores were significantly lower at mid- and post-test in the TE group compared to the PE group (p < 0.001). WOMAC-stiffness scores were significantly reduced at post-test in both groups, with scores in the TE group significantly lower at post-test compared to the PE group (p < 0.01). WOMAC-difficulty in physical function scores significantly reduced (p < 0.01) in the TE group at post-test, but no significant change (p > 0.05) was observed in the PE group. Additionally, scores were significantly lower (p < 0.01) at post-test in the TE group compared to the PE group. For QoL scores, both physical health and psychological health scores significantly increased in both groups (p < 0.05) at mid- and post-test, with scores in the TE group significantly higher (p < 0.05). QoL-social health scores significantly increased (p < 0.05) at post-test in the TE group but not in the PE group. However, QoL- environmental health scores did not significantly differ (p > 0.05) between or within groups at any time point. In conclusion, turmeric supplementation combined with strengthening exercises results in greater improvements in pain level, physical function, and quality of life than strengthening exercises alone. Therefore, turmeric supplementation can berecommended to improve physical function, pain, and quality of life amongknee osteoarthritis patients in addition to physiotherapy exercises.