Guided Imagery Relaxation Therapy in Malaysian Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: There is limited data regarding the use of relaxation technique in managing knee osteoarthritis in Asian population. Aims and Objectives: The efficacy and acceptance of relaxation therapy in improving symptoms, physical functions and quality of life of patients with primary knee osteoarthritis was examined in this study. Methods/Study Design: Sixty patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to an intervention group using relaxation therapy (n = 30) or to a control group of usual care (n = 30) for eight weeks. The intervention consisted of listening to 13 minutes of an MP3 player with pre-recorded Guided Imagery with Relaxation Therapy. Changes from baseline on pain, symptoms, physical functions and quality of life using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was determined using ANCOVA analysis. The difference of analgesic consumption using analgesic score was also calculated. Findings: A total of 60 patients enrolled in the study, however only 59 patients completed the study (98.3%). The mean age of the patients was 52.2 (SD 7.08). There were significant improvements in the pain (p < 0.004), daily living activities (p < 0.02), sports and recreational activities (p < 0.005) and quality of life (p < 0.01) scores in the intervention. Overall there was good acceptance of the therapy among the participants. Conclusion: Guided Imagery with Relaxation Therapy has significantly reduced pain and improved daily living activities and health-related quality of life with good acceptance by the participants. These results justify further investigation into Guided Imagery with Relaxation Therapy as self-management in patients with knee osteoarthritis in Asian patients.