Treatment for Unspecified Shoulder and Knee Pain: A Case Report from a Tertiary Rural Ayurvedic Institute

Introduction: Musculoskeletal pain is a major contributor to disability and healthcare utilization in primary care settings; however, traditional Ayurvedic therapies remain underutilized despite their potential as accessible and cost-effective treatment options.The primary objective of this case report is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a targeted Ayurvedic treatment protocol in managing chronic musculoskeletal pain within a low-resource primary care setting.Case description: A 45-year-old male farmer from rural Gujarat presented with a six-month history of chronic bilateral shoulder and knee pain, diagnosed as Apabahuka with Sandhigata Vata (subacromial impingement with osteoarthritis).Intervention and outcome: He underwent an eight-day regimen of Abhyanga (medicated oil massage) and Nadi Sweda (localized steam therapy).Post-intervention, his pain scores significantly decreased, and functional mobility improved, allowing him to resume agricultural duties without further analgesics.Conclusion: This case report suggests that Ayurvedic modalities may help to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain in underserved communities.Further research with objective outcome measures is recommended.