OsteoarthritisEMBARKNCT01537484
Exploring Massage Benefits for Arthritis of the Knee
A study testing Massage Therapy in people with Osteoarthritis, run by Duke University at 3 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to verify the efficacy of an 8-week course of manualized Swedish massage for reducing pain and increasing function compared to light-touch bodywork, and usual care, in 222 adults with OA of the knee. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 35 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Osteoarthritis
- What is being tested?
- Massage Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 222 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- Jun 2012to Jun 2015
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 35 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 35 years of age or greater.
- Written confirmation of OA of the knee as provided by the participant's physician.
- Radiographically-established OA of the knee.
- Pre-randomization rating within a certain range on the Visual Analog Pain Scale (0 - 100 mm scale).
- Receiving care for diagnosed OA of the knee under the care of a board-certified primary care physician, with or without involvement of a board-certified rheumatologist.
- Patients with bilateral knee involvement will have the more severely affected knee designated as the study knee.
- American College of Rheumatology defined OA of the knee; specifically:
- Knee pain b. Satisfaction of at least three of the following six criteria: i. Age great than 50 years ii. Stiffness < 30 minutes iii. Crepitus iv. Bony Tenderness v. Bony enlargement vi. No palpable warmth
Who cannot join
- Presence of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, recurrent or active pseudo gout.
- Presence of cancer or other decompensated medical conditions that limit the ability to participate fully in all interventions, assessments, and follow-up visits.
- Signs or history of kidney or liver failure.
- Presence of asthma requiring the use of corticosteroid treatment.
- Use of oral corticosteroids within the past four weeks.
- Use of intra-articular knee depo-corticosteroids with the past three months.
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- Use of intra-articular hyaluronate with the past six months.
- Arthroscopic surgery of the knee within the past year.
- Significant injury to the knee within the past six months.
- Presence of a rash or open wound over the knee.
- Unable to satisfy the treatment and follow-up requirements.
- Unable to provide written informed consent.
- Currently receiving massage therapy on a regular basis (at least twice a month).
- Knee replacement of study knee (ok if the knee not being studied has been replaced).
- History of participating in the EMBARK Phase I or II studies.
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country.
United States3 sites
Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Integrative Medicine Center at Griffin Hospital
Derby, Connecticut, 06418
Duke University Medical Center- Duke Integrative Medicine
Durham, North Carolina, 27710
Atlantic Health System -- Atlantic Health Integrative Medicine
Morristown, New Jersey, 07960
About this study
Official title: Multisite RCT Investigating the Efficacy of Massage in Osteoarthritis
The purpose of this study is to verify the efficacy of an 8-week course of manualized Swedish massage for reducing pain and increasing function compared to light-touch bodywork, and usual care, in 222 adults with OA of the knee.
- Conditions
- Osteoarthritis
- Being tested
- Massage Therapy
- Keywords
- massage, osteoarthritis, light touch, Swedish
- Medical subject headings
- Osteoarthritis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Massage TherapyProcedure or surgery
Also called Usual Care
Swedish Massage for 1 hour for 8 weeks, Light Touch Bodywork for 1 hours for 8 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Swedish Massage | Experimental | Swedish massage for one hour, once per week, for eight weeks. At week 10, 50% of patients will be randomized to a maintenance dose (one hour of Swedish massage every two weeks), and 50% will be randomized to Usual Care. Receives: Procedure: Massage Therapy |
| Light Touch Bodywork | Active comparator | Light-touch bodywork for one hour, once per week, for eight weeks. At week 10, 50% of the patients will be randomized to a maintenance dose (one hour of light-touch massage every two weeks, and 50% will be randomized to Usual Care. Receives: Procedure: Massage Therapy |
| Usual Care | Other | Those initially randomized to the usual care control will be rolled into the Swedish massage intervention (one hour of Swedish massage, once/week for eight weeks) at week 25. At week 34, 50% of patients will be randomized to a maintenance dose (one hour of Swedish massage every two weeks), while 50% will be randomized back to Usual Care. Receives: Procedure: Massage Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Hip Index (WOMAC)
The Index is self-administered and assesses the three dimensions of pain, disability and joint stiffness in knee and hip osteoarthritis through 24 questions. WOMAC 3.1 is available in 65 languages using either a five-point Likert scale or a 100 mm visual analog scale. The WOMAC has been subject to numerous validation studies to assess reliability and responsiveness to change in therapy, including physical forms of therapy
Measured: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Change in Pain: The Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Used to measure pain sensation intensity evoked by nociceptive stimuli. Subjects quickly and easily rate stimuli within the series by indicating level of pain on a 100 mm scale. Pain intensity is represented by the participant drawing a line on the scale indicative of pain experienced (0 = no pain, to 100 = worse pain imaginable). The VAS is anchored at the left by "no pain sensation" and at the right by "the most intense pain sensation imaginable."
Measured: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
Change in Pain: PROMIS Pain Interference Questionnaire
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is a system of highly reliable, valid, flexible, precise, and responsive assessment tools that measure patient-reported health status. The Pain Interference Questionnaire has 6 questions answered on an ordinal scale of five gradations.
Measured: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
Change in Joint Flexibility
Joint flexibility is defined as the range of motion (ROM) allowed at the knee. The knee's ROM is measured by the number of degrees from the starting position of a segment to its position at the end of its full range of the movement. This is measured using a double-armed goniometer. A stationary arm holding a protractor is placed parallel with a stationary body segment and a movable arm moves along a moveable body segment. The pin (axis of goniometer) is placed over the joint.
Measured: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
Change in Physical Function
Measured time in seconds to walk fifty (50) feet (15 m) on a level surface within the clinic facilities.
Measured: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Feb 2012 (estimated)
- Study startJun 2012
- Primary completionJun 2015
- Study completionJun 2015
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for OsteoarthritisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Duke UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 222 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Duke University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Adam Perlman, MD, MPH, Principal investigator, Duke University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01537484
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Pro00032894
- Other IDs
- 7R01AT004623-04
- Acronym
- EMBARK
- Status last verified
- Aug 2015
- First submitted
- 7 Feb 2012
- Last updated
- 20 Apr 2017
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
Perlman AI, Sabina A, Williams AL, Njike VY, Katz DL. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Dec 11-25;166(22):2533-8. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.22.2533.
PubMed 17159021Perlman AI, Ali A, Njike VY, Hom D, Davidi A, Gould-Fogerite S, Milak C, Katz DL. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized dose-finding trial. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e30248. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030248. Epub 2012 Feb 8.
PubMed 22347369Perlman A, Fogerite SG, Glass O, Bechard E, Ali A, Njike VY, Pieper C, Dmitrieva NO, Luciano A, Rosenberger L, Keever T, Milak C, Finkelstein EA, Mahon G, Campanile G, Cotter A, Katz DL. Efficacy and Safety of Massage for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a Randomized Clinical Trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2019 Mar;34(3):379-386. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4763-5. Epub 2018 Dec 12.
PubMed 30543021
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Apr 2017. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Multisite RCT Investigating the Efficacy of Massage in Osteoarthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01537484
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EMBARK / Pro00032894
- Conditions
- Osteoarthritis
- Keywords
- massage, osteoarthritis, light touch, Swedish
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 222 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Duke UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- Study start
- Jun 2012
- Primary completion
- Jun 2015 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jun 2015 (actual)
- First posted
- 23 Feb 2012 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to verify the efficacy of an 8-week course of manualized Swedish massage for reducing pain and increasing function compared to light-touch bodywork, and usual care, in 222 adults with OA of the knee.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Swedish Massage | Experimental | Procedure: Massage TherapySwedish massage for one hour, once per week, for eight weeks. At week 10, 50% of patients will be randomized to a maintenance dose (one hour of Swedish massage every two weeks), and 50% will be randomized to Usual Care. |
| Light Touch Bodywork | Active comparator | Procedure: Massage TherapyLight-touch bodywork for one hour, once per week, for eight weeks. At week 10, 50% of the patients will be randomized to a maintenance dose (one hour of light-touch massage every two weeks, and 50% will be randomized to Usual Care. |
| Usual Care | Other | Procedure: Massage TherapyThose initially randomized to the usual care control will be rolled into the Swedish massage intervention (one hour of Swedish massage, once/week for eight weeks) at week 25. At week 34, 50% of patients will be randomized to a maintenance dose (one hour of Swedish massage every two weeks), while 50% will be randomized back to Usual Care. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 35 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- 35 years of age or greater.
- Written confirmation of OA of the knee as provided by the participant's physician.
- Radiographically-established OA of the knee.
- Pre-randomization rating within a certain range on the Visual Analog Pain Scale (0 - 100 mm scale).
- Receiving care for diagnosed OA of the knee under the care of a board-certified primary care physician, with or without involvement of a board-certified rheumatologist.
Key exclusion criteria (15 listed)
- Presence of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, recurrent or active pseudo gout.
- Presence of cancer or other decompensated medical conditions that limit the ability to participate fully in all interventions, assessments, and follow-up visits.
- Signs or history of kidney or liver failure.
- Presence of asthma requiring the use of corticosteroid treatment.
- Use of oral corticosteroids within the past four weeks.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Massage TherapyAlso: Usual CareSwedish Massage for 1 hour for 8 weeks, Light Touch Bodywork for 1 hours for 8 weeks. | Procedure or surgery | Light Touch Bodywork, Swedish Massage, Usual Care |
Primary outcome
Change in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Hip Index (WOMAC)
Time frame: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
The Index is self-administered and assesses the three dimensions of pain, disability and joint stiffness in knee and hip osteoarthritis through 24 questions. WOMAC 3.1 is available in 65 languages using either a five-point Likert scale or a 100 mm visual analog scale. The WOMAC has been subject to numerous validation studies to assess reliability and responsiveness to change in therapy, including physical forms of therapy
4 secondary outcomes
Change in Pain: The Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
Change in Pain: PROMIS Pain Interference Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
Change in Joint Flexibility
Time frame: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
Change in Physical Function
Time frame: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Apr 2017.
- Results publication: PubMed 17159021Perlman AI, Sabina A, Williams AL, Njike VY, Katz DL. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Dec 11-25;166(22):2533-8. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.22.2533.
- Results publication: PubMed 22347369Perlman AI, Ali A, Njike VY, Hom D, Davidi A, Gould-Fogerite S, Milak C, Katz DL. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized dose-finding trial. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e30248. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030248. Epub 2012 Feb 8.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 30543021Perlman A, Fogerite SG, Glass O, Bechard E, Ali A, Njike VY, Pieper C, Dmitrieva NO, Luciano A, Rosenberger L, Keever T, Milak C, Finkelstein EA, Mahon G, Campanile G, Cotter A, Katz DL. Efficacy and Safety of Massage for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a Randomized Clinical Trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2019 Mar;34(3):379-386. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4763-5. Epub 2018 Dec 12.
- Duke Integrative MedicineLink provided by the sponsor.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Adam Perlman, MD, MPH principal investigator
Duke University
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Massage Therapy in people with Osteoarthritis, run by Duke University at 3 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 15 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Apr 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Hip Index (WOMAC) (time frame: Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 52 weeks (Baseline, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 for Usual Care group)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01537484, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Apr 2017.