About 50 percent of American adults currently use some type of alternative or complementary therapy to help manage health conditions. And if you’re battling arthritis, you may just be one of them. Aromatherapy, which uses essential plant oils, is one approach gaining in popularity because of its
pleasant smells and potential anti-inflammatory effects — a perfect combination for easing joint pain from arthritis. Recent studies demonstrated the effect of aromatherapy massage on knee pain and functional status in subjects with osteoarthritis. It was a non-randomized interventional study and carried out on patients who referred to the outpatient clinics of the Department of Orthopedics, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Bozok University Research and Application Hospital, and were diagnosed with osteoarthritis. A total number of patients that were included in the study was 95, and of those, 33 were allocated to aromatherapy massage group, 30 were allocated to conventional massage group, and 32 were allocated to the control group. The study data were collected using the Patient Identification Form, visual analogue scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index. According to repeated measures analysis of variance test that was used to analyze the outcomes in the aromatherapy, conventional massage and control groups, aromatherapy massage performed in patients with osteoarthritis reduced knee pain scores, decreased morning stiffness, and improved physical functioning status. Thus, as long as specific training is provided for aromatherapy massage, aromatherapy can be recommended for routine use in physical therapy units,hospitals and homes.