According to the American College of Rheumatology, more than 27 million Americans over age 25 suffer from osteoarthritis—a leading cause of disability worldwide—with pain being the most problematic symptom for patients.

Massage therapy has been shown in previous research to lessen knee pain and stiffness and improve range of motion in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Knee pain also results from being overweight and injury.

Many women, especially those age 50 and older, report knee pain, according to new research.

The new research shows 63 percent of women age 50 and older reported persistent, incident, or intermittent knee pain during a 12-year study period, according to a press release. Predictors for persistent pain included higher body mass index, previous knee injury

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates job-related OA costs $3.4 to $13.2 billion per year, according to the press release, and prior studies suggest knee osteoarthritis, specifically, is associated with impaired physical function and substantial societal burden.

Details of this longitudinal study, "Self-Reported Knee Pain Prevalence in a Community-Based Cohort Over 12 Years," are available in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

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