Celecoxib improves the efficiency of the locomotor mechanism in patients with knee osteoarthritis. A randomised, placebo, double-blind and cross-over trial

Objective: To compare the effect of celecoxib vs placebo treatment on clinical and gait variables in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients; focusing on the efficiency of the locomotor mechanism. Methods: Study design: A prospective, randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Patients: Eight adult patients with painful CA of the knee. Outcome measures: Clinical assessment included knee pain assessed by the visual analogue scale, range of knee motion assessed by goniometer, and locomotor function status assessed by a Knee Score Scale. Gait was assessed by means of instrumented analysis including synchronous kinematic, dynamic, electromyographic, and energetic recordings. Statistical analysis: The effect of treatment on the primary variable, the efficiency of the locomotor mechanism, and on secondary clinical and gait variables was assessed by the Hills and Armitage non-parametric approach. Results: Celecoxib treatment improved the efficiency of the locomotor mechanism significantly. Among the secondary outcome measures assessed, celecoxib treatment improved walking cadence and reduced the knee pain significantly. Conclusion: This study shows that celecoxib is effective in improving locomotor function and pain in patients with knee OA. (c) 2004 OsteoArthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.