NCT00970008

Brief Summary

In 2004, we conducted a pilot randomized, wait list controlled, trial (RCT) of massage therapy for OA of the knee in 68 subjects. That study, supported by CDC grant SIP-14-00, revealed the potential efficacy of Swedish massage therapy in the treatment of OA of the knee, with benefits of increased function and decreased pain persisting at least eight weeks following treatment cessation. The results of that trial, the first RCT of massage for OA, were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2006 (See reference in More Information section). This current project builds on the design and findings of the pilot trial to determine the optimal dose and treatment regimen and provide longer term follow up. This project is a dual-site, randomized, dose-ranging trial to compare four dose/regimens in order to identify the optimal protocol for clinical practice. The primary study hypothesis is that an eight (8) week course of Swedish massage therapy of one of the four proposed doses (by frequency and duration of massage treatment session) will be effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with confirmed OA of the knee.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
125

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Sep 2009

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 18, 2009

Completed
14 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 1, 2009

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 2, 2009

Completed
1.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 1, 2011

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 1, 2011

Completed
Last Updated

May 5, 2015

Status Verified

April 1, 2015

Enrollment Period

1.8 years

First QC Date

August 18, 2009

Last Update Submit

May 1, 2015

Conditions

Keywords

OsteoarthritisKnee

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Improvement in WOMAC (Western Ontario Multipurpose Arthritis Centers) Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Index

    Six (6) months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Safety

    Six (6) months

  • Improvement in range of motion as measured by a goniometer.

    six (6) months

  • Improvement in physical function as measured by time in seconds to walk fifty (50) feet on a level straight surface.

    six (6) months

  • Reduction in pain as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain.

    Six (6) months

Study Arms (5)

Massage 30 min - 2x wk for 4 wks & 1x wk for 4 wks

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Swedish massage session of 30 minutes duration, twice weekly for four weeks followed by once weekly for four weeks over a eight (8) week period. Total intervention = 12 sessions for 360 minutes.

Other: Massage 30 min 2x/wk x4 wks then 1x/wk x4 wks

Massage 60 min - 2x wk for 4 wks & 1x wkly for 4 wks

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Swedish massage session of 60 minutes duration, twice weekly for four weeks followed by once weekly for four weeks over a eight (8) week period. Total intervention = 12 sessions for 720 minutes.

Other: Massage 60 min 2x/wk for 4 wks then 1x/wk for 4 wks

Massage 30 min sessions - 1x/wk for 8wks

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Swedish massage session of 30 minutes duration, once weekly for eight weeks over a eight (8) week period. Total intervention = 8 sessions for 240 minutes.

Other: Massage 30 min sessions 1x/wk for 8 wks

Massage 60 min sessions - 1x/wk for 8 wks

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Swedish massage session of 60 minutes duration, once weekly for eight weeks over a eight (8) week period. Total intervention = 8 sessions for 480 minutes

Other: Massage 60 min session 1x/wk for 8 wks

Usual Care Control

NO INTERVENTION

Continue on usual care for eight (8) week period.

Interventions

Swedish massage session of 30 minutes duration, twice weekly for four weeks followed by once weekly for four weeks over a eight (8) week period. Total intervention = 12 sessions for 360 minutes.

Massage 30 min - 2x wk for 4 wks & 1x wk for 4 wks

Swedish massage session of 60 minutes duration, twice weekly for four weeks followed by once weekly for four weeks over a eight (8) week period. Total intervention = 12 sessions for 720 minutes.

Massage 60 min - 2x wk for 4 wks & 1x wkly for 4 wks

Swedish massage session of 30 minutes duration, once weekly for eight weeks over a eight (8) week period. Total intervention = 8 sessions for 240 minutes.

Massage 30 min sessions - 1x/wk for 8wks

Swedish massage session of 60 minutes duration, once weekly for eight weeks over a eight (8) week period. Total intervention = 8 sessions for 480 minutes

Massage 60 min sessions - 1x/wk for 8 wks

Eligibility Criteria

Age35 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • 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 score of 40 to 90 on the Visual Analog Pain Scale (0-100 mm scale).
  • 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:
  • Knee pain
  • Satisfaction of at least five of the following nine criteria:
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  • Age greater than 50 years
  • Stiffness \< 30 minutes
  • Crepitus
  • Bony tenderness
  • Bony enlargement
  • No palpable warmth
  • +2 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • Presence of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, recurrent or active pseudo gout.
  • Presence of cancer or other serious medical conditions.
  • 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).

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center/Griffin Hospital

Derby, Connecticut, 06418, United States

Location

Siegler Center for Integrative Medicine - Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center

Livingston, New Jersey, 07039, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Perlman AI, Sabina A, Williams AL, Njike VY, Katz DL. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Dec 11-25;166(22):2533-8. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.22.2533.

    PMID: 17159021BACKGROUND
  • Ali A, Kahn J, Rosenberger L, Perlman AI. Development of a manualized protocol of massage therapy for clinical trials in osteoarthritis. Trials. 2012 Oct 4;13:185. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-13-185.

  • Perlman AI, Ali A, Njike VY, Hom D, Davidi A, Gould-Fogerite S, Milak C, Katz DL. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized dose-finding trial. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e30248. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030248. Epub 2012 Feb 8.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, KneeOsteoarthritis

Interventions

Massage

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

ArthritisJoint DiseasesMusculoskeletal DiseasesRheumatic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapy, Soft TissueMusculoskeletal ManipulationsComplementary TherapiesTherapeuticsPhysical Therapy ModalitiesRehabilitation

Study Officials

  • Adam I Perlman, MD, MPH

    University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 18, 2009

First Posted

September 2, 2009

Study Start

September 1, 2009

Primary Completion

July 1, 2011

Study Completion

August 1, 2011

Last Updated

May 5, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-04

Locations