Is Patch It^® better than placebo in alleviating swelling and ache in the lower legs and feet? A randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, crossover, sequential trial

Abstract

Background:

Existing therapeutic measures for swelling, aching and discomfort in the lower limbs, which include compression stockings and leg elevation, are difficult to use and inconvenient. Patch It^®, a proprietary herbomineral patch is an easy-to-use alternative therapy. This trial was conducted to compare it’s efficacy against that of a placebo in swollen and aching lower legs and feet.

Methods:

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, crossover, sequential trial was conducted in the private clinics of physicians. A total of 100 patients (24 men and 76 women), aged 25 to 60 years, with recurring swelling in the feet and (optionally) up to two more related complaints, having an average visual analog score (VAS) of at least 60 (scale 0–100) for each complaint were recruited into the study. Patches (active or placebo) were applied to both soles overnight for 8 weeks: 4 consecutive weeks each with active or placebo in randomized sequence. Outcome measures included the average VAS score (baseline to week 4, and week 5 to week 8), preference for either patch (difference of >5 mm in average VAS score reduction), ankle figureof- eight measures, investigator’s global assessment (good, fair, poor), patient’s willingness to continue using the patch after the trial (yes, no), and adverse events.

Results:

Out of 100 patients, 86 completed the trial, while ten were excluded for noncompliance, three withdrew, and one was lost to follow-up. The active placebo boundary of the sequential chart was crossed when 82 patients completed the trial. Active patch was also superior to placebo patch by mean reductions in average VAS scores (13.14 versus 9.6, P = 0.02), mean reduction in figure-of-eight ankle measurements (1.21 cm versus 0.79 cm, P = 0.003), investigator’s global assessment (P < 0.01), and by proportion of patients willing to continue using the patch after the trial (P < 0.01). Ten percent of patients experienced localized itching with each patch, but this did not require interruption of treatment.

Conclusion:

Patch It had greater efficacy than the placebo in alleviating recurring swelling and aching in the legs and feet, and is well tolerated.

Keywords::

• ankle swelling
• leg ache
• dermal patch
• reflexology
• sequential analysis
• figure-of-eight