Skip to main navigation
Skip notifications
Access to POEMs and Essential Evidence Plus will no longer be included in CMA membership as of Dec. 1, 2023.
Search
Massage decreases pain, improves function in patients with knee osteoarthritis
Clinical Question
Is total body massage more effective than sham massage or usual care to improve function and decrease the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee?
Bottom line
Weekly sessions of total body Swedish massage, with significant attention to the lower extremities, were more effective than usual care or sham massages in reducing pain and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The benefit was sustained over 1 year, even when the massages were discontinued after 8 weeks. 1b
Reference
Study design: Randomized controlled trial (nonblinded)
Funding: Government
Setting: Outpatient (primary care)
Synopsis
The researchers conducted this study in several sites, enrolling 222 patients either referred from physicians or recruited via advertisements. The patients had an average age in the 60s, the majority were female, and the average body mass index put them in the obese range. Patients were assigned (allocation unconcealed) to receive a weekly 60-minute full body Swedish massage, a weekly 60-minute light touch treatment (sham massage), or usual care for 8 weeks. At the end of this section of the study, a second randomization was performed on the massage and sham massage groups to either continue with every 2-week treatment or receive no treatment for another 44 weeks. Patients in the usual care group initially received weekly massage midway through the 1-year study for 8 weeks and then were re-randomized to continue massage every 2 weeks or back to usual care for 16 weeks. Using this complicated design allowed patients to serve as their own controls, greatly enhancing the statistical analysis. After 8 weeks, combined pain, stiffness, and physical function were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), a standard research tool. From baseline WOMAC scores of 50 (of a possible 100), scores in the massage group dropped an average 18 points as compared with a drop of 10 points with sham massage (difference -8.16; 95% CI -13.50 to -2.81). A clinically important difference in WOMAC scores is 7 points. Massage was also significantly better than usual care. However, by 52 weeks, scores were similar, with other groups similarly improving. However, all but 30 of the initial group ended up receiving massage some time during the year, making it difficult to determine whether it was massage or natural history that caused the lasting benefit.
Reviewer
Allen F. Shaughnessy, PharmD, MMedEd
Professor of Family Medicine
Tufts University
Boston, MA
Comments
Subject: Message acts a vital role towards human body .
Dear Respected Team-CMA-Canada,
As per my above reading on Message Therapy ,I can disclose to you that_ Message acts a vital role towards human body sometimes instead of Medicine. When ,patients feel whole body pain , knee pain,legs pain,hands pain , back side and backbone pains then, Message each time 30 mins to 60 mins can remove the pains and can give comfort to patients/clients. Some message at human body / at body parts can be given 3 times weekly for two weeks . 3 times weekly for 4 weeks /one month . If It is essential more then , it can be given for 3 months only . Then if it needs more then 6 months only , if needs more then can be given 9 months only.
It is a Body Therapy towards settling the problems of human body. Good message will give good mind to patients/clients for soon recovery.
Respectfully.
Dr.Muhammad Arif Rana
Global Family Doctor (LDM Roll-224)-WONCA at SIG Based in Manikganj-Bangladesh.
International Resident Member (IMG)-CMAID-680777-CMA-Canada.
Date : September 24 -2019-Tuesday-06:02 PM.
(Respectfully)
None
None