This study is designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups. All participants will receive a standardized physical therapy rehabilitation program. Participants will be randomly allocated into either a study group receiving metformin iontophoresis or a control group receiving placebo iontophoresis. Both participants and outcome assessors will be blinded to group allocation.
The study population will consist of postmenopausal women diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. Postmenopause is defined as the absence of menstruation for at least 12 consecutive months. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the study or control group using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Allocation concealment will be ensured using sealed opaque envelopes. Both participants and outcome assessors will be blinded to the treatment allocation. The physical therapist applying iontophoresis will not be involved in outcome assessment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
68
Metformin gel 2% Iontophoresis Combined with Physical Therapy Rehabilitation
Iontophoresis with neutral gel Combined with Physical Therapy Rehabilitation
Badr University in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt
Pain intensity
assessed using the Visual Analog Scale.
Time frame: at baseline, after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks
Functional status
assessed using the WOMAC index
Time frame: at baseline, after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks
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