Comparative study of the efficacy of glucosamine sulfate capsules and Huoxue Xiaozhong prescription in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and the recovery of knee joint function

This study focused on the difference in efficacy between glucosamine sulfate capsules and Huoxue Xiaozhong recipe in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, as well as their effects on knee joint function recovery. A total of 128 patients with knee osteoarthritis who met the criteria were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into a glucosamine sulfate group (n = 64) and a traditional Chinese medicine group (n = 64). The total effective rate, visual analogue score (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), degree of joint swelling, range of motion (ROM), serum inflammatory factor levels, degree of articular cartilage wear, knee joint function recovery and adverse reactions were observed from multiple dimensions. In this study, independent sample t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to statistically evaluate the data. The results showed that the traditional Chinese medicine group had significant advantages in total effective rate, improvement of WOMAC score, relief of joint swelling, improvement of ROM, control of articular cartilage wear, and knee joint function recovery; the glucosamine sulfate group performed outstandingly in reducing VAS scores and regulating serum inflammatory factor levels and the incidence of adverse reactions in the traditional Chinese medicine group was lower. In summary, for patients who urgently need to relieve pain, glucosamine sulfate capsules can be used as an initial option; while for patients who hope to comprehensively improve joint function, the blood circulation and swelling reduction formula is more valuable.