Metformin Iontophoresis and Physical Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis in Postmenopausal Women

This study focuses on postmenopausal women who have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, a condition where the knee joints become painful and stiff. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment that combines a medication called Metformin, applied through a process known as iontophoresis, along with physical therapy rehabilitation. The study is important as it aims to find a potential new approach to manage knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women, which could lead to improved quality of life. Participants in this study are randomly assigned to either the treatment group or the control group, with neither the participants nor the outcome assessors knowing who receives which treatment. The treatment group receives Metformin through iontophoresis, a method that uses a mild electrical current to deliver the medication through the skin, along with physical therapy. The control group receives a placebo, or dummy treatment, through iontophoresis and the same physical therapy. The study measures the results by looking at changes in functional status, assessed using the WOMAC index, and pain intensity, assessed using the Visual Analog Scale.