CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF MARMA CHIKITSA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS – A PILOT STUDY

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a frequently encountered degenerative musculoskeletal condition that may present with pain, stiffness, limited joint mobility, and difficulty in carrying out routine activities. From an Ayurvedic perspective, its clinical features can be considered in relation to Sandhigata Vata, in which aggravated Vata Dosha affects the joints. Marma Chikitsa is a traditional Ayurvedic therapeutic modality involving stimulation of specific Marma sites and may provide symptomatic relief while supporting functional improvement. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Marma Chikitsa on pain and functional status in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: An open-label clinical study was carried out in 10 patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis who fulfilled the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Selected Marma points of the knee and lower limb were stimulated according to a standardized therapeutic protocol for a defined treatment period. Clinical assessment was performed before and after the intervention. Pain, stiffness, and functional ability were evaluated using predefined clinical parameters and appropriate outcome measures. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis to determine the changes following treatment. Results: Following completion of the treatment, improvement was noted in the overall clinical status of the participants. Decreased pain and stiffness, along with improvement in mobility and functional performance, were observed in comparison with the baseline findings. The results indicated a favourable symptomatic response to Marma Chikitsa among the study participants. Discussion and Conclusion: The beneficial changes observed may be related to the stimulation of selected Marma sites, which could modulate pain perception and neuromuscular responses, thereby supporting improved movement and functional capacity. Marma Chikitsa may therefore have potential as a non-invasive therapeutic option for symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritis. However, confirmation of these findings requires further well-designed studies involving larger sample sizes, appropriate control groups, and extended follow-up.