Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2024

64 • Massage Therapy Journal

T he lower body contains the largest muscle (gluteus maximus), bone (femur) and joint (knee), and with so many large, complex areas, come sometimes large, complex and painful problems. When these problems arise, massage therapy is increasingly showing itself as an effective, non-pharmacological intervention to help people manage lower body pain.

clinical trial divided 93 patients evenly into three groups: massage therapy, aromatherapy and the control. A demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score questionnaire were used to measure outcomes and completed before the intervention, at the fifth intervention and at the 10th intervention. Results showed the massage therapy group had the highest pain score at the beginning of the intervention but the lowest pain score at the end of the 10th session, and both massage therapy and aromatherapy showed significant results in performance, exercise and recreational activities when compared to the control group. “The use of both massage therapy and aromatherapy is recommended for patients with knee osteoarthritis,” researches noted. “Interventions should be prolonged for at least six months.” A systematic review 2 and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize available evidence on the effects of massage therapy for knee osteoarthritis and included 12 studies with a total of 737 participants. Massage was compared to controls. “After 1‒4 weeks of therapy, there was a significant reduction in pain and stiffness scores in the massage group, and after 6‒8 weeks of therapy, there was a significant reduction in stiffness and functionality scores,” researchers noted, adding that outcomes were short-term. According to the NIH, restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder that causes unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in a person’s legs and an irresistible urge to move them. Common symptoms include aches, pulling, itching, tingling, tightness, and electrical or jolting sensations. These symptoms can lead to poor sleep quality and a decreased quality of life. Some kidney failure patients who need hemodialysis also experience RLS. One study 3 explored the effects of foot massage with lavender and orange essential oil on a patients’ Massage for Restless Leg Syndrome: What We Know

“In my years of experience and research, most pain related to the legs, knees and feet is related to the muscles that move the joints,” says Dorothea Atkins, ThD, MA, DSN, LMT. “Therefore, I use variations of the four basic massage techniques, including tapotement, effleurage, muscle energy technique and myofascial release.” Tapotement is used to stimulate circulation and relax muscles and effleurage helps release muscle tension. Muscle energy technique is used with joint resistance to release muscle tension, and myofascial release is used to reduce the tension in connective tissues, Atkins explains. Clients dealing with knee injuries or chronic conditions that affect the knee joint may experience symptoms such as pain, swelling and stiffness, redness and warmth, weakness or instability, popping or crunching noises, and the inability to fully straighten the knee. “Knee pain usually stems from above or below the knee itself,” says Jennifer Hanna, LMT. “Normally, decreased range of motion in the hips or locked talus, calcaneus, and/or navicular will be the cause of knee pain.” Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, and often affects the knee joint. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), age, weight and trauma to the joint caused by repetitive movements (such as squatting and kneeling) are some of the most common risk factors for knee osteoarthritis. A 2021 study 1 compared the effects of aromatherapy and massage therapy on knee pain, morning stiffness, daily life function and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The Massage for the Knee: Updates in Research

SHARE RECENT RESEARCH Does aromatherapy massage reduce depression and anxiety for seniors? Find the answer in “Research: Massage and Aromatherapy,” available at amtamassage.org/mtj.

amtamassage.org/mtj