The Effect of Tail Fat Application on Joint Pain, Joint Stiffness, and Daily Living Activities in Patients With Gonarthrosis

NCT07867405 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: ınonu2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

In recent years, experimental and clinical studies conducted on sheep tail fat, a natural and easily accessible resource, have shown that bioactive components found in sheep tail fat, such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and myristic acid, have anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective (cartilage-protective) properties. In addition, literature reviews have revealed that sheep tail fat alleviates joint pain and has a positive effect on joint stiffness. Sheep tail fat is known to be frequently used by patients with gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis) in Türkiye and many other countries as a traditional and complementary medicine method. In this context, this study is designed as a randomized controlled experimental study to evaluate the effects of sheep tail fat application on pain, joint stiffness, and activities of daily living in patients with gonarthrosis. The study population consists of patients diagnosed with gonarthrosis who apply to the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation outpatient clinics of two state hospitals located in Bitlis. According to the sample size calculation performed using G\*Power 3.1.9.7 software, a total of 66 participants were determined and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group will receive topical sheep tail fat application in addition to standard medical treatment, while the control group will continue to receive standard medical treatment only. Data collection tools include the Patient Identification Form developed by the researcher, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for assessing pain intensity, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) for assessing pain, joint stiffness, and daily physical function. These scales will be administered at baseline and again after completion of the intervention period. The double-boiler (bain-marie) method is used to obtain the sheep tail fat, and participants are provided with training on the application techniques. The required ethics committee approval and institutional permissions from the relevant healthcare institutions have been obtained, and written informed consent has been obtained from all participants. Hamdani sheep, one of the sheep breeds commonly raised and traditionally preferred in the region where the study is conducted, are used to obtain the sheep tail fat. For the statistical analysis of the data, in addition to descriptive statistics, the paired-samples t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test will be used for within-group comparisons, while the independent-samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test will be used for between-group comparisons. When the assumptions of parametric tests are not met, appropriate non-parametric methods will be preferred. This study aims to contribute scientifically to clinical decision-making processes regarding traditional and complementary treatment approaches by evaluating, within an evidence-based framework, the effectiveness of a method traditionally used for the management of gonarthrosis symptoms in many countries. It also aims to support the standardization of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine practices and to provide scientific evidence regarding a low-cost, natural, non-invasive, and accessible alternative treatment option. In addition, the findings are expected to guide the development of new strategies to improve functional well-being in patients with gonarthrosis.

Conditions

Gonarthrosis

Keywords

gonarthrosis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

  Baseline and 2 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group(Sheep Tail Fat + Standard Treatment)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive topical sheep tail fat application in addition to standard medical treatment.

Other: Sheep Tail Fat

Control Group(Standard Medical Treatment)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will receive standard medical treatment only.

Other: Standard medical treatment

Interventions

Sheep Tail Fat OTHER

Topical application of sheep tail fat to the knee once daily for two weeks, seven days per week, with each application lasting at least three hours.

Experimental Group(Sheep Tail Fat + Standard Treatment)

Standard medical treatment OTHER

Participants in the control group will receive standard medical treatment only.

Control Group(Standard Medical Treatment)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients diagnosed with gonarthrosis by a physician.
• Patients with a VAS score above 4.
• Individuals who have experienced pain related to knee osteoarthritis for at least the last 3 months.
• Participants aged 18 years and older.
• Individuals without an allergy to sheep tail fat or other animal products.
• Individuals who can communicate in Turkish and understand written and verbal instructions.
• Individuals who can apply the sheep tail fat according to the instructions.
• Individuals who agree to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals with severe physical disability or mental/psychological problems in the knee region.
• Individuals with intellectual or cognitive limitations.
• Individuals who have undergone knee surgery within the last year.
• Individuals with peripheral vascular disease.
• Individuals with infection, wound, cellulitis, or active skin disease in the knee region.
• Individuals who have experienced knee trauma or received an intra-articular steroid injection within the last six months.
• Individuals diagnosed with secondary arthritis or inflammatory joint disease.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Individuals with active bleeding disorders.
• Individuals with asthma and individuals with liver or kidney failure.
• Individuals with connective tissue diseases (e.g., lupus, systemic sclerosis).
• Individuals who have experienced a serious infection within the last three months or are immunosuppressed.
• Individuals with neurological diseases affecting knee stability.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Inonu University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Bitlis State Hospital

Bitlis, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Bitlis Tatvan State Hospital

Bitlis, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Osteoarthritis; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases

Study Officials

• Medet KORKMAZ

  Inonu University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Medet KORKMAZ

CONTACT

05065027980; medet.korkmaz@inonu.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 29, 2026
• First Posted: October 9, 2026
• Study Start: May 12, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2027
• Last Updated: October 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (2)