Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis OA is a degenerative joint disease that affects millions globally, causing chronic pain and limited mobility. Pharmacological treatments for OA-related knee pain come with risks, making alternative or complementary therapies attractive.
No adverse events were reported. Knee osteoarthritis OA is a multifactorial degenerative joint disease that is primarily caused by cartilage degradation due to catabolic factors induced by tissue oxidative stress undergone during aging, obesity, genetic predisposition, and trauma [ 1 , 2 , 3 ].
Progressive cartilage deterioration irritates the subchondral bone and synovium [ 6 , 7 ]. Pain is the first symptom, followed rapidly by a limitation in joint mobility, a source of impaired quality of life QoL [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. In addition, people who are pain-sensitive have a poorer QoL than those who are not, as do elderly people with osteoarthritis compared to their non-affected counterparts.
Reduced QoL can lead to early professional retirement, increased dependence on carers, and social isolation, involving a major economic impact [ 11 ]. Surgery is indicated if these treatments fail [ 5 , 12 ]. Joint stress reduction and weight management are recommended to optimize the efficacy of oral and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs.
Oral or intra-articular pharmacological treatments have numerous short- and medium-term side effects. Opioids oral and transdermal are strongly discouraged [ 13 ]. Given these risks, there is growing interest in alternative treatments with fewer side effects, including aromatherapy with essential oils extracted from plants [ 15 , 16 , 17 ].
