Massage Relieves Knee Osteoarthritis

Massage therapy has been shown to help knee osteoarthritis. Traditional Swedish massage relieves pain and improves function though researchers admit they are not sure exactly how massage works to relieve osteoarthritis. The small study, published in the December 11 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, involved 68 adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. The study participants were randomly assigned traditional Swedish massage for one hour, twice a week for 4 weeks and then once a week for 4 more weeks, or to a waiting list beginning massage 8 weeks after the first group. All participants continued with medications and treatments they were already using.

The massage group had reduced pain, better range of motion, and more flexibility after 8 weeks. The group put on the waiting list did not show improvement until they began receiving massage. Significant improvement in symptoms lasted for two months after the last massage.

Related Resources:

• More About Massage
• Guide to Osteoarthritis
• Ways to Manage Your Pain
• Fast Facts About Osteoarthritis
• Step-by-Step: The Cause of Knee Pain

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