Swedish massage for 8 weeks improved pain, stiffness, physical function, walking, and range of motion in a study of 68 men and women with osteoarthritis (OA) .

Importantly, the improvement was sustained for 16 weeks.

Massage treatment included twice-weekly sessions of standard Swedish massage from weeks 1 through 4 and once-weekly sessions from weeks 5 through 8.

The researchers concluded, “Massage therapy seems to be efficacious in the treatment of OA of the knee. Further study of cost effectiveness and duration of treatment effect is clearly warranted.”

12/25/06 JR