Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
Efficacy and safety study of diclofenac epolamine topical patch in accelerating rehabilitation of moderate hamstring strain: A randomized controlled trial
By Niu X and Zhang Z.
Abstract
Background
Moderate hamstring strain is a common sports injury impairing daily and athletic function. While topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) offer localized pain relief with reduced systemic effects, high-quality evidence specific to hamstring injury is limited.
Objectives
To evaluate the effect of a short-course topical diclofenac epolamine patch combined with rehabilitation on pain and functional recovery in moderate hamstring strain.
Methods
In this single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 120 patients were randomized to an experimental group (diclofenac patch twice daily for 14 days plus rehabilitation) or a control group (placebo patch plus identical rehabilitation). Outcomes assessed included pain measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), as the primary endpoint, muscle strength, knee range of motion (ROM), functional back-kick test, time to rehabilitation criteria and safety (adverse events, liver/renal function).