title: Knee arthritis pain is reduced and range of motion is increased following moderate pressure massage therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The literature on massage therapy effects on knee pain suggests that pain was reduced based on self-report, but little is known about range of motion (ROM) effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical School staff and faculty who had knee arthritis pain were randomly assigned to a moderate pressure massage therapy or a waitlist control group (24 per group). Self-reports included the WOMAC (pain, stiffness and function) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. ROM and ROM-related pain were assessed before and after the last sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The massage group showed an immediate post-massage increase in ROM and a decrease in ROM-associated pain. On the last versus the first day of the study, the massage group showed greater increases in ROM and decreases in ROM-related pain as well as less self-reported pain and sleep disturbances than the waitlist control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data highlight the effectiveness of moderate pressure massage therapy for increasing ROM and lessening ROM-related pain and long-term pain and sleep disturbances.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, USA; Fielding Graduate University, USA. Electronic address: tfield@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diego
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Massage Envy, USA.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Funk
mesh_terms: D018771:Arthralgia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Knee arthritis pain; Moderate pressure massage