We quite often see customers complaining of knee pain. Whether or not massage can help really depends on the cause of the pain: massage rarely helps with bone/joint problems. But it may be that pain in the knees is referred there (in the same way that headaches can be referred pain from the neck and shoulders). In this case, massaging leg muscles can significantly reduce the pain

In cases of osteo arthritis (the degenerative condition described as "wear and tear" and mainly affecting the weight-bearing joints) there has been research into the possible role of the quadriceps muscle group. This large thigh muscle group is made up of four distinct muscles all connecting at the knee. They are essential for all sorts of standing, walking, squatting and stair climbing activity, but also in the stabilisation and protection of the knee joint during high impact activity. Weakness in the quad muscle is very common in osteo arthritis sufferers and there is some debate about whether the muscle degeneration can actually bring about the arthritis in the knees - i.e. quad weakness could be either a consequence or a cause of the osteoarthritis. In any case conventional treatments of physiotherapy, support braces, weight control, anti-inflammatory diet, and medication can be supplemented by massage.

Let your therapist know about your knee pain, and ask her to use a bolster cushion placed under your shins when lying face-down to relieve pressure on the knee. When lying face-up your therapist will always massage the quads; and in cases where you wish her to massage around your knees, she will apply gentle massage around the kneecap, and into the connected muscles (but never pressing on the knee direclty). Again, most of the benefit is likely to come from loosening the quads, but pressing firmly around the knee - both outisde and inside the leg - can be helpful. This can be done with the leg fully extended or slightly elevated (either with cushions or resting the calf on the therapist's thigh) depending on preference.

It goes without saying that for anyone experiencing severe knee pain or inflammation (including in a flare-up of gout) should not seek a massage - it would probably be impossible to lie face-down in those cases anyway. And if you are suffering with, or recovering from, a ligament injury then we would always recommend speaking with your GP before seeking a massage.

Finally, after care is important too, and we often recommend heat packs (or even heated knee braces) after a massage treatment around painful knees.