Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease which causes the progressive damage of cartilage, which work as shock absorbers of the joints; as a result of this damage the formation of osteophytes and friction between bones occurs, the body’s response is to make the joints stable and with time the joints loss of flexibility, cause pain and inflammation (Arthritis Research U.K. n.d). Common areas affected by Osteoarthritis are knees, hips, neck, back, big toes and hands (women have a higher risk of suffering from the disease). The cause Osteoarthritis is unknown but it may be related to the ageing process as people over 40 are prone to suffer this problem, also being female and/or obese plays an important part in the development of the condition, plus genetic factors predispose people to this chronic degenerative disease. People who suffer joint injuries or who have had operations, especially on knee joints, are also at risk of developing Osteoarthritis (Arthritis Research U.K.).

 The main symptoms of OA are:

• Pain when the joint is moved and exacerbated at the end of the day

• Stiffness after long period of rest

• Swelling caused by synovial fluid and the formation of osteophytes 

• Loss of the function and range of movement of the joint 

Manipulative therapies can be beneficial in treating people living with problems related to joints, repetitive strain injuries and postural problems (Arthritis Research U.K. n.d). Research demonstrates that Swedish Massage alleviates symptoms related to Osteoarthritis (Perlman et al 2012). A Randomized trial was carried for 8 weeks with 115 adults diagnosed with OA of the knee. The participants were separate into 5 groups, 4 groups were under Swedish massage treatment and the other group used the usual medication to treat the condition.

Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4
30 min massage	30 min massage	60 min massage	60 min massage
Once a week	Twice a week/ once a week 2nd phase	Once a week	Twice a week
8 weeks	8 weeks	8 weeks	8 weeks

The participants were under treatment for 60 minutes using the Swedish massage model. The result proved that this type of complementary therapy can alleviate those suffering Osteoarthritis of the knee for up to 8 weeks after the conclusion of the study (Perlman et al 2012).

References:

Arthritis Research U.K. (n.d.) What is osteoarthritis? <http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/osteoarthritis/what-is-osteoarthritis.aspx> [19/03/2015]

---(n.d.) What causes osteoarthritis <http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/osteoarthritis/causes.aspx> [27/03/2015]

 ---(n.d.) Manipulative therapies <http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/complementary-and-alternative-medicines/complementary-therapies/manipulative-therapies.aspx> [19/03/2015]

Perlman Al, Ali A, Njike VY, Hom D, Davidi A, (2012) Massage Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Dose-Finding Trial. PLoS ONE 7(2): e30248.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030248.

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