Clinical study to evaluate the therapeutic safety and efficacy of Habb-e-Mafasil in the management of Waja’al- Rukba (Primary Knee Osteoarthritis): An open label block randomized standard control study.

Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal disease in the world after lower back ache. It stems from cartilage degeneration at joint sites which leads to significant pain and disability. Among all forms of arthritis, isolated knee osteoarthritis is the most common progressive multifactorial joint disease. It accounts for almost four fifths of the burden of osteoarthritis worldwide and increases with obesity and age. The global prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in individuals aged 15 and over is about 16.0% and 22.9% in individuals aged 40 and over. Correspondingly there are around 654.1 million individuals (40 years and older) with knee osteoarthritis in 2020 worldwide. In females the risk of both prevalence and incidence is higher than males. However, with ageing of the population, both the prevalence of osteoarthritis and the amount of disability associated with it have been increasing worldwide, especially in developed countries where the life expectancy has increased. Along with the pain and stiffness in joints, OA leads to joint deformities also. Despite all these complications, OA is often neglected either because it’s not a fatal disease or many physicians consider it to be a normal part of ageing and is not inherently treatable. This, however, results in vast direct medical costs and significant loss of work. It is the leading indication for total joint replacement. Presently there is no definite cure for osteoarthritis nor are there any pharmacological agents available that definitely affect the underlying pathological process. The disease is usually treated by giving Non steroidal anti-inflammatory  drugs like Selective cox1 and cox2 inhibitors, corticosteroids etc that are aimed to reduce the pain and joint inflammation and hence minimize the loss of function. However the potential for serious side effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and ulceration, exacerbation of hypertension, and fluid retention; concerns about their renal and cardiovascular safety particularly in older individuals with co-morbidities limit their use. While in severe cases knee arthoplasty is done which is too costly with unusual eventualities. So the need of the hour is that there should be an alternative mode of treatment in order to provide safe, effective and economical treatment with least or no side effects to the patients with knee osteoarthritis.