Exploring Massage Benefits for Arthritis of the Knee

Inclusion Criteria:

- 35 years of age or greater.

- Written confirmation of OA of the knee as provided by the participant's physician.

- Radiographically-established OA of the knee.

- Pre-randomization rating within a certain range on the Visual Analog Pain Scale (0 -
100 mm scale).

- Receiving care for diagnosed OA of the knee under the care of a board-certified
primary care physician, with or without involvement of a board-certified
rheumatologist.

- Patients with bilateral knee involvement will have the more severely affected knee
designated as the study knee.

- American College of Rheumatology defined OA of the knee; specifically:

a. Knee pain b. Satisfaction of at least three of the following six criteria: i. Age
great than 50 years ii. Stiffness < 30 minutes iii. Crepitus iv. Bony Tenderness v.
Bony enlargement vi. No palpable warmth

Exclusion Criteria:

- Presence of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, recurrent or active pseudo gout.

- Presence of cancer or other decompensated medical conditions that limit the ability
to participate fully in all interventions, assessments, and follow-up visits.

- Signs or history of kidney or liver failure.

- Presence of asthma requiring the use of corticosteroid treatment.

- Use of oral corticosteroids within the past four weeks.

- Use of intra-articular knee depo-corticosteroids with the past three months.

- Use of intra-articular hyaluronate with the past six months.

- Arthroscopic surgery of the knee within the past year.

- Significant injury to the knee within the past six months.

- Presence of a rash or open wound over the knee.

- Unable to satisfy the treatment and follow-up requirements.

- Unable to provide written informed consent.

- Currently receiving massage therapy on a regular basis (at least twice a month).

- Knee replacement of study knee (ok if the knee not being studied has been replaced).

- History of participating in the EMBARK Phase I or II studies.