Knee osteoarthritis is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder that significantly impairs physical function and daily activities. Patients with knee osteoarthritis experience chronic pain, fatigue, muscle weakness, and joint stiffness, which lead to significant functional impairments in daily activities such as walking, stair climbing, standing, and personal care. While conventional treatments focus on symptom management, complementary therapies such as aromatherapy massage have gained attention for their potential benefits. Several studies have explored the potential benefits of complementary and alternative therapies, including massage therapy, physical therapy, hydrotherapy, and aromatherapy, in improving pain, quality of life, and functional mobility in osteoarthritis patients. Among these interventions, massage therapy is widely recognized as one of the safest and most commonly used complementary approaches. Over 80 massage techniques exist, with effleurage being particularly suitable for osteoarthritis patients due to its gentle nature. Essential oils are frequently incorporated into massage therapy with popular choices including lavender, Deep Blue, sweet almond, ginger, rosemary, black seed, and peppermint oils.
Knee problems can be very frustrating. In fact, a painful knee can prevent you from enjoying your favorite things, such as walking, playing golf, exercising, or gardening. There are many instances where knee pain can even interfere with a good nights sleep. To make matters worse many common knee conditions are slow to respond to traditional types of care, often creating further disappointment and aggravation.