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

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.