Methods	RCT, DB, parallel groups Gel applied to affected area four times daily, with light massage, for 14 days Assessment at baseline, 7, 14 days
Participants	Painful inflammatory conditions N= 50 M 20, F 30 Mean age 50 years Baseline pain ≥moderate severity
Interventions	Diclofenac gel 1%, 4 × 2 g daily, n = 25 (Flector) Diclofenac sodium 1%, 4 × 2 g daily, n = 25 (Voltaren Emugel) No other medication that could interfere with test drugs allowed
Outcomes	PGE: 5 point scale (responder = “good” or “excellent”) Improvement in pain on pressure: 4 point scale (mean data) Adverse events Withdrawals
Notes	Oxford Quality Score: R1, DB1, W1. Total = 3/5 Oxford Validity Score: 7/16
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors’ judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not described
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not described
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not described