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 OA 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.