Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsTipsWhen to See a Healthcare Provider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Benefits

Tips

When to See a Healthcare Provider

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Doctor testing the knee with the Lachman Test

Benefits of Knee Massage

Because many of the commonly prescribed treatments forknee painhave side effects and some are of limited benefit, many people are left searching for alternative options. One such treatment is knee massage. Several different studies have found that massaging a sore or arthritic joint can have a number of benefits including:

Massage may also help improve the tone and increase the overall flexibility of the muscles that lend support and stability to the affected knee.

While these physiological benefits are important, what is truly impactful is the effect they may have on your daily life. Research seems to suggest that massage therapy can positively affect pain levels, stiffness, and overall day to day function in individuals dealing with osteoarthritis in their knees. This seems to be especially true in the short term when dealing with a flare-up of pain.

One other benefit is that there are minimal side-effects associated with massage. While this intervention is not meant to replace more traditional treatments likephysical therapy, weight loss, and pain medication, it can be a nice supplement that rarely has negative consequences.

What Causes a Stiff Knee After Sitting?

Tips for Knee Massage

If you want to try massage for your painful knees, it’s important to make sure you do so safely. First, be sure to speak to the healthcare provider that manages your pain to ensure that massage is appropriate for you. Certain styles of massage may be inappropriate and even harmful for people with an inflamed joint, so it is best to talk to your practitioner first.

Also if you have certain conditions, you may way to steer clear of massage as it may have a negative impact. These conditions include:

Finally, it is crucial to remember that a massage should improve your pain, not make it worse.The “no pain, no gain” philosophy is not appropriate under these circumstances.

Self Massage

If you want to try self-massage, theAmerican Massage Therapy Associationsuggests the following techniques to help maximize the benefit of your treatment. These strokes can be performed with or without a lubricating agent (like moisturizer cream) and may even be done over loose-fitting pants.

Massage Therapist

If you are uneasy about performing a self-massage but still want to harness the potential of this treatment, a massage therapist can be a nice option. These professionals are trained to select the style of massage that is most beneficial for your painful or arthritic knees.

In fact, one study found that participants with knee osteoarthritis who received a weekly, 60-minute massage for eight weeks had lower pain and better daily function in the short-term than those who received standard care.If you decide to visit a massage therapist, be sure to follow these helpful guidelines.

A Word From Verywell

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Perlman AI, Sabina A, Williams A-L, Njike VY, Katz DL.Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial.Archives of Internal Medicine.2006;166(22):2533-2538. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.22.2533Perlman A, Fogerite SG, Glass O, et al.Efficacy and safety of massage for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized clinical trial.Journal of General Internal Medicine.2019;34(3):379-386. doi:10.1007/s11606-018-4763-5Arthritis Foundation.Benefits of massage.American Massage Therapy Association.Self-massage for knee pain.

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Perlman AI, Sabina A, Williams A-L, Njike VY, Katz DL.Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial.Archives of Internal Medicine.2006;166(22):2533-2538. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.22.2533Perlman A, Fogerite SG, Glass O, et al.Efficacy and safety of massage for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized clinical trial.Journal of General Internal Medicine.2019;34(3):379-386. doi:10.1007/s11606-018-4763-5Arthritis Foundation.Benefits of massage.American Massage Therapy Association.Self-massage for knee pain.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Perlman AI, Sabina A, Williams A-L, Njike VY, Katz DL.Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial.Archives of Internal Medicine.2006;166(22):2533-2538. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.22.2533Perlman A, Fogerite SG, Glass O, et al.Efficacy and safety of massage for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized clinical trial.Journal of General Internal Medicine.2019;34(3):379-386. doi:10.1007/s11606-018-4763-5Arthritis Foundation.Benefits of massage.American Massage Therapy Association.Self-massage for knee pain.

Perlman AI, Sabina A, Williams A-L, Njike VY, Katz DL.Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial.Archives of Internal Medicine.2006;166(22):2533-2538. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.22.2533

Perlman A, Fogerite SG, Glass O, et al.Efficacy and safety of massage for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized clinical trial.Journal of General Internal Medicine.2019;34(3):379-386. doi:10.1007/s11606-018-4763-5

Arthritis Foundation.Benefits of massage.

American Massage Therapy Association.Self-massage for knee pain.

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