Review ArticleComplementary Therapies for Osteoarthritis: Are They Effective?
Section snippets
Methods
Medline, Pubmed, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (Cinahl) databases (January 1995 to April 2011) were searched using tai chi, acupuncture, yoga, and massage as MeSH terms. Additional search terms included randomized controlled trial, systematic review, and osteoarthritis. Identified abstracts were reviewed in detail by using the following inclusion criteria: 1) article published in English; 2) enrolled adults with osteoarthritis; 3) used a randomized controlled
Results
Twenty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria (23 RCTs and 6 SRs) and were retained for review. The following section is organized by treatment to include a brief description of each intervention (i.e., tai chi, acupuncture, yoga, and massage therapy), evidence regarding its efficacy and safety, and a summary of the evidence along with questions that remain unanswered regarding each treatment. Table 1 provides a brief summary of each article to include information regarding the
Discussion
Available evidence suggests that tai chi, acupuncture, yoga, and massage therapy are safe for use by persons with OA and may have beneficial effects. Many unanswered questions remain about their role as treatments for persons with OA. Studies are needed to determine the long-term effects (i.e., >6 months) of the therapies and their role in treating individuals with various types of OA (e.g., multiple vs. single joint involvement). Head-to-head comparisons (e.g., tai chi vs. yoga) are needed to
References (45)
- et al.
Do physicians treat symptomatic osteoarthritis patients properly? Results of the AMICA experience
Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
(2005) - et al.
Physical activity in men and women with arthritis National Health Interview Survey, 2002
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
(2006) - et al.
Alternative therapies for musculoskeletal conditions
Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology
(2008) - et al.
Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomised trial
Lancet
(2005) - et al.
An experimental study on the effectiveness of massage with aromatic ginger and orange essential oil for moderate-to-severe knee pain among the elderly in Hong Kong
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
(2008) - et al.
OARSI recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis, part II: OARSI evidence-based, expert consensus guidelines
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
(2008) Recommendations for the medical management of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee: 2000 update
Arthritis and Rheumatism
(2000)- et al.
Perceived barriers to trying self-management approaches for chronic pain in older persons
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
(2005) - et al.
Identification of pain-reduction strategies used by community-dwelling older persons
The Journals of Gerontology. Series, A., Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
(2005) - et al.
Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized, controlled trial
Annals of Internal Medicine
(2004)
A randomized trial of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee
Rheumatology
Group and home-based tai chi in elderly subjects with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial
Clinical Rehabilitation
Prevalence of disabilities and associated health conditions among adults—United States, 1999
The Journal of the American Medical Association
Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation—United States, 2003-2005
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Acupuncture treatment of severe knee osteoarthrosis. A long-term study
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
Acupuncture as an adjunct to exercise based physiotherapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: Randomised controlled trial
British Medical Journal
Physical activity for osteoarthritis management: A randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating hydrotherapy or tai chi classes
Arthritis and Rheumatism
Evaluation of a yoga based regimen for treatment of osteoarthritis of the hands
The Journal of Rheumatology
The unequal burden of pain: Confronting racial and ethnic disparities in pain
Pain Medicine
Effects of t'ai chi training on function and quality of life indicators in older adults with osteoarthritis
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Use of complementary therapies among primary care clinic patients with arthritis
Preventing Chronic Disease
Cited by (32)
Battling the opioid epidemic: lessons learned and management strategies
2019, Arthroplasty TodayUsing Yoga Nidra Recordings for Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy
2019, Pain Management NursingCitation Excerpt :Therefore, yoga nidra may be very useful for inducing psychological and physiological relaxation during a colonoscopy. Research has indicated that yoga nidra can be used to reconcile hormone imbalances (Rani et al., 2013); enhance well-being (Rani et al., 2011; Rani et al., 2016); decrease depression and anxiety (Eastman-Mueller, Wilson, Jung, Kimura, & Tarrant, 2013; Rani et al., 2016; Rani, Tiwari, Singh, Singh, & Srivastava, 2012); and alleviate pain (Korterink, Ockeloen, Hilbink, Benninga, & Deckers-Kocken, 2016; Posadzki, Ernst, Terry, & Lee, 2011; Shengelia, Parker, Ballin, George, & Reid, 2013; Smith, Levett, Collins, & Crowther, 2011). Nonetheless, there is little in the literature on the effects of yoga nidra for pain management in patients undergoing colonoscopy.
Effect of Auriculotherapy on the Plasma Concentration of Biomarkers in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis
2018, JAMS Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian StudiesCitation Excerpt :Auriculotherapy (AT) is recommended when the patient with KOA has chronic moderate to severe pain and is a candidate for total knee arthroplasty, but is unwilling to undergo this procedure or the patient has comorbid medical conditions or is taking concomitant medications that lead to a relative or absolute contraindication to surgery or a decision by the surgeon not to recommend the procedure. AT is a type of nonpharmacological therapy [9,10], usually performed with needles. It is reported to be effective in the treatment for reducing chronic pain caused by KOA because of its analgesic effect, besides being associated with improved functional mobility and quality of life [8].
Osteoarthritis
2018, Integrative Medicine: Fourth EditionPrevalence, patterns, and predictors of massage practitioner utilization: Results of a US nationally representative survey
2017, Musculoskeletal Science and PracticeCitation Excerpt :The fields of practice of massage therapy are broad and can be found in a variety of clinical contexts targeting different conditions. Correspondingly, there have been numerous scientific studies and systematic reviews conducted investigating massage in a range of areas of which a majority have targeted musculoskeletal conditions and pain (Crawford et al., 2016; Wong et al., 2015; Cherkin et al., 2003; Vernon et al., 2007; Shengelia et al., 2013; Loew et al., 2014; Yuan et al., 2015; Ajimsha et al., 2015; van den Dolder et al., 2014; Cheng and Huang, 2014; Field, 2016; Chaibi and Russell, 2014; Calixtre et al., 2015; Morell, 2016; McFeeters et al., 2016; Furlan et al., 2015; Patel et al., 2012; Li et al., 2014; Kong et al., 2013; Sutton et al., 2016; Chou et al., 2016; Brosseau et al., 2012; Chambers, 2013; Liu et al., 2015; Forestier et al., 2016; Kumar et al., 2013; Piper et al., 2016; Netchanok et al., 2012; Cheatham et al., 2015; Keeratitanont et al., 2015; Mącznik et al., 2014; Chou et al., 2007; Bryans et al., 2014; Côté et al., 2016; Bronfort et al., 2010). Whilst there is some emerging evidence of short-term effectiveness of massage for back and neck pain, as per two Cochrane reviews, the evidence of longer term effects are still lacking (Furlan et al., 2015; Patel et al., 2012).
Supported by the National Institute on Aging (Edward R. Roybal Center grant P30AG022845) and the John A. Hartford Foundation (Center of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine award).