Trial reportPhysiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy2026
Effects of Sanqi Shengyu External Application Cream and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on Knee Osteoarthritis in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Trial report in Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Effects of Sanqi Shengyu External Application Cream and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on Knee Osteoarthritis in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026Trial
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
background and purposeKnee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, necessitating safe and effective therapies. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of the Sanqi Shengyu External Application Cream, an external Chinese herbal therapy (ECHT), pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), and their combination in alleviating pain and improving function in KOA patients.
methodsThis single-blinded, multi-center randomized controlled trial enrolled 120 elderly participants with KOA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥ 2). Participants were randomly allocated to one of the four groups: (1) ECHT + PEMF + exercise, (2) ECHT + exercise, (3) PEMF + exercise, or (4) exercise + health education (control). Interventions were administered 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Primary outcomes included pain (visual analog scale, VAS) and function (The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, WOMAC), assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 4-week follow-up. Secondary outcomes encompassed muscle strength and knee range of motion (ROM).
resultsAll groups showed significant time effects for pain and function (VAS, F = 122.9, p < 0.001; WOMAC, F = 103.7, p < 0.001). The combined therapy group demonstrated superior outcomes (reduced VAS by 3.0 points, p < 0.001), with sustained reductions in VAS (2.8 vs. baseline 5.8) and WOMAC (14.2 vs. baseline 24.8) at follow-up (p < 0.001). ECHT alone exhibited durable efficacy, while PEMF's benefits diminished post-intervention. The control group showed significant but less pronounced improvements than the active intervention groups. Muscle strength improved modestly in the combined group, but no significant ROM changes were observed. DISCUSSION: The Sanqi Shengyu External Application Cream can alleviate KOA symptoms with sustained effects in older adults, outperforming PEMF alone. Combining ECHT and PEMF yields synergistic benefits, suggesting a novel multimodal approach for KOA management. Future research should explore long-term efficacy and mechanisms of action.
trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry Platform: www.chictr.org.cn (No. ChiCTR2400087644).
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