Exploring Massage Benefits for Arthritis of the Knee



Status:Completed
Conditions:Arthritis, Osteoarthritis (OA)
Therapuetic Areas:Rheumatology
Healthy:No
Age Range:35 - Any
Updated:4/21/2016
Start Date:June 2012
End Date:June 2015

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Multisite RCT Investigating the Efficacy of Massage in Osteoarthritis

The purpose of this study is to verify the efficacy of an 8-week course of manualized
Swedish massage for reducing pain and increasing function compared to light-touch bodywork,
and usual care, in 222 adults with OA 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.
We found this trial at
3
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Durham, NC
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Derby, CT
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Morristown, NJ
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