Exploring Massage Benefits for Arthritis of the Knee

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Osteoarthritis

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01537484

Run by

Duke University

People needed

222

Starts

2012-06-01

Expected to finish

2015-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-04-20

Who can join

Age: 35 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 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

You may not qualify if…

• 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.

Where it is running

• Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Integrative Medicine Center at Griffin Hospital — Derby, Connecticut, United States
• Atlantic Health System -- Atlantic Health Integrative Medicine — Morristown, New Jersey, United States
• Duke University Medical Center- Duke Integrative Medicine — Durham, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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