Massage Therapy is an Ally for Knee Surgery

Massage Therapy: A Knee Surgery Ally

Despite the popular practice of separating Western medicine from all other types of healing, arthroscopic knee surgery and massage therapy are ideal partners.

Initially, some supporters of complementary medicine might think that a massage therapy practitioner lies on the opposite end of the healing spectrum from an orthopedic surgeon. In a last ditch hope to reduce pain, drain edema, improve function and restore range of motion, a staunch western medical cynic may perceive submitting to arthroscopic knee surgery as a loss of hope. Unfortunately, such a view enforces the separation of allopathic medicine from alternative styles of healing – like massage therapy. Massage therapists can help their clients in this situation by teaching them about the true strength of integrative medicine. In this specific context, utilizing the power of massage therapy soon after knee surgery offers the client the best of both wellness approaches: surgical repair of the damaged tissue AND bodywork to aid in the tissue’s healthful recovery.

About Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

A viewing instrument in the shape of a long tube, an arthroscope is used during arthroscopy – a surgical procedure in which the internal structure of a joint is examined for evaluation and treatment. The arthroscope contains optical fibers and lenses, and can be inserted through small skin incisions to enter the affected joint. Projecting a present time image onto a monitor, the arthroscope’s camera enables the surgeon to “see” the joint’s interior. An arthroscope used for knee surgery is only about 5 millimeters in diameter.

Because the knee doesn’t need to be totally cut and opened up, arthroscopic surgery typically results in less tissue trauma, less pain and promotes a quicker recovery. Common knee injuries for which arthroscopy is considered include:

meniscus tears
ligament strains and tears
deterioration of cartilage under the patella

The effectiveness of knee arthroscopic surgery varies greatly, with some reports claiming it to be no better than a sham surgery and others demonstrating a significant improvement to the knee’s function and pain. Individuals who are candidates for this high-tech knee surgery should know that experts believe the success of this procedure frequently lies in the patient’s commitment to his or her rehabilitation.

Recovery with Massage Therapy

Rehabilitation from arthroscopic surgery typically lies with physical therapy. While physical therapy is a crucial part of the recovery process, there is more that can be done. A modality that induces relaxation, affects soft tissue and invigorates circulation, massage therapy can offer a great boost to recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. This view is shared by many in the profession. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has even taken the position that massage aids in postoperative pain relief. According to the AMTA, research indicates that massage therapy can:

decrease postoperative pain
decrease postoperative pain unpleasantness/distress
decrease sympathetic responses to postoperative pain
accelerate the rate of decline in the intensity of postoperative pain
decrease doses of analgesics
increase levels of calmness/feelings of well-being

Further supporting massage’s general benefit for postoperative pain, a study published in the winter 2010 edition of the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research concluded that massage therapy was a valuable tool to reduce pain severity following arthroscopic knee surgery.

While great care is warranted in addressing a postoperative knee, massage therapy that is gentle and properly applied can be of great benefit in:

unlocking the quadriceps musculature
improving lymph circulation in and around the knee
smoothing out myofascial restrictions
prohibiting scar tissue formation
draining local edema

All of the strengths listed above help reduce pain, increase range of motion and function, and speed the healing process.

Considering how desirable bodywork’s influence can be following arthroscopic knee surgery, it’s surprising that more orthopedic surgeons and massage therapists don’t work closely together. People seeking the best solution for a problematic knee are advised to consider how integrative medicine can work for them. If knee arthroscopy is warranted, following up with a regular physical therapy AND massage therapy program is one of the best ways to claim a successful surgical outcome.

References

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/arthritis/a/athroscopy.htm, Knee Arthritis, Jonathan Cluett, MD, Retrieved December 16, 2011, about.com, 2011.

http://www.amtamassage.org/statement1.html, Massage Therapy can Aid in Postoperative Pain Relief, Retrieved December 17, 2011, American Massage Therapy Association, 2011.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/arthritis/how-to-prepare-for-joint-replacement-surgery.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthLivingWithRheumatoidArthritis_20111218, How to Prepare for Joint Replacement Surgery, Retrieved December 16, 2011, Everyday Health Inc., 2011.

http://www.medicinenet.com/arthroscopy/article.htm, Arthroscopy, William C. Shiel Jr. MD, FACP, FACR, Retrieved December 17, 2011, MedicineNet, Inc., 2011.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17159021, Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial, Perlman Al, et al, Retrieved December 17, 2011, Archives of Internal Medicine, December 2006.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3093031/, Study on effect of massage therapy on pain severity in orthopedic patients, Maryam Eghbali, MSc, et al, Retrieved December 17, 2011, Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, Winter 2010.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0708333, A Randomized Trial of Arthroscopic Surgery for Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Alexandra Kirkley, MD, et al, Retrieved December 17, 2011, The New England Journal of Medicine, September 2008.

About the Author

Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., MTCM, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)®

Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., MTCM is a long time advocate of integrating perspectives on health. With a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester and a Master's degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches Institute, Nicole has been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. She has gathered acupuncture licenses in the states of California and New York, is a certified specialist with the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, has earned diplomat status with the National Commission of Chinese and Oriental Medicine in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology and is a member of the Society for Integrative Oncology. In addition to her acupuncture practice that focuses on stress and pain relief, digestion, immunity and oncology, Nicole contributes to the integration of healthcare by writing articles for professional massage therapists and people living with liver disease.