Complementary therapies for osteoarthritis: are they effective?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of massage therapy as a complementary treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), focusing on pain reduction and functional improvement.
Results Summary
The study found that massage therapy is safe for individuals with OA and demonstrated positive short-term effects (≤6 months) in reducing pain and improving self-reported physical functioning. However, limited information exists on its relative effectiveness compared to other therapies or its effects in distinct patient subgroups.
Population
Adults with osteoarthritis (specific joint involvement not detailed beyond knee OA being implied).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Short-term (≤6 months)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
tai chi | no change | - | individuals with OA | - | are safe for use | #1 |
acupuncture | no change | - | individuals with OA | - | are safe for use | #2 |
yoga | no change | - | individuals with OA | - | are safe for use | #3 |
massage therapy | no change | - | individuals with OA | - | are safe for use | #4 |
tai chi | decrease | pain | - | - | Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of reduced | #5 |
tai chi | increase | self-reported physical functioning | - | - | Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of improved | #6 |
acupuncture | decrease | pain | - | - | Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of reduced | #7 |
acupuncture | increase | self-reported physical functioning | - | - | Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of improved | #8 |
yoga | decrease | pain | - | - | Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of reduced | #9 |
yoga | increase | self-reported physical functioning | - | - | Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of improved | #10 |
massage therapy | decrease | pain | - | - | Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of reduced | #11 |
massage therapy | increase | self-reported physical functioning | - | - | Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of improved | #12 |
Complementary therapies | decrease | pain | adults with OA | - | can reduce | #13 |
Complementary therapies | increase | function | adults with OA | - | can improve | #14 |
Increasing interest has focused on complementary management modalities, including tai chi, acupuncture, yoga, and massage therapy, as treatments for osteoarthritis (OA). This review article synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs) that examined one or more of the above as treatments for OA. Medline, Pubmed, and Cinahl databases were searched to identify English-language articles using an RCT design or that conducted a SR of published studies and presented data on symptom or functional outcomes. Two authors independently abstracted relevant information (e.g., study sample, intervention characteristics, treatment effects, safety data). Retained articles (n = 29) included those that evaluated tai chi (8 RCTs, 2 SRs), acupuncture (11 RCTs, 4 SRs), yoga (2 RCTs), and massage therapy (2 RCTs). Available evidence indicates that tai chi, acupuncture, yoga, and massage therapy are safe for use by individuals with OA. Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of reduced pain and improved self-reported physical functioning were found for all 4 treatments. Limited information exists regarding the relative effectiveness of the therapies (e.g., yoga vs. tai chi vs. acupuncture), as well as treatment effects in persons with joint involvement besides the knee and in distinct patient subgroups (e.g., older vs. younger adults, persons with mild vs. moderate vs. advanced disease). Complementary therapies can reduce pain and improve function in adults with OA. Research is needed to evaluate long-term benefits of the treatments, as well as their relative effects among diverse patient subgroups.