From Massage Magazine

Within the massage for arthritis group, the intervention resulted in significant immediate changes, such as an increase in internal rotation ROM on the first day of the study; an increase in standing flexion ROM on the last day of the study; and an increase in supine flexion ROM on both the first and last days of the study.

The research also revealed that external rotation pain decreased in the massage group and increased in the wait-list control group over the four-week study period.

Internal rotation ROM increased in the massage group throughout the intervention period as well. Internal rotation pain decreased in the massage group during the four-week period and increased in the wait-list control group. Both standing flexion ROM and supine flexion ROM increased for the massage group throughout the intervention period.

As far as performance, as measured by the adapted Short Physical Performance Battery, the data suggested that the massage group, as opposed to the wait-list control group, experienced decreased sitting pain, reduced time walking an eight-foot distance, and decreased standing-on-one-leg pain.

Standing-on-one-leg pain actually increased in the wait-list control group.

On the self-report measures, the massage group versus the wait-list control group had a decreased WOMAC pain score, a decreased WOMAC activity score, a decreased WOMAC total score and a decreased sleep disturbance global score.

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