Can ancient massage and herbs soothe aching knees?

NCT ID NCT04492670

First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial investigates whether combining Tui-na, a traditional Chinese massage technique, with an oral herbal formula called Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-Tang can reduce pain and improve function in people with knee osteoarthritis. Participants aged 50 and older with knee osteoarthritis will be randomly assigned to receive the combined therapy for four weeks or to a wait-list control group. The study measures changes in pain, stiffness, and quality of life using standard questionnaires.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
a combination of Tui-na (a type of Chinese therapeutic massage) and an oral Chinese herbal formula called Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-Tang (DHJST)
What this could lead to
If effective, this combined therapy could offer a non-drug option for managing knee osteoarthritis symptoms like pain and stiffness.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial with only 70 participants, so results may not apply widely. The treatment involves multiple components, making it hard to know which part works.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • The Chinese University of Hong Kong

    Hong Kong, Hong Kong

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.