A Study to assess the effectiveness of home made herbal plaster application on knee joint pain among elderly (above 60 years) in selected old age homes, Chennai

INTRODUCTION: Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage. Aging is a natural phenomenon that is experienced by all living organisms. Healthy geriatric population makes major contribution to the health and development of the country. Most of geriatric population is troubled by chronic knee pain that has major effect on their quality of life. It accounts for approximately one-third of musculoskeletal problems in this population. High prevalence of knee joint pain is reported by various authors i.e.46.7% among 60 years and above population and 40.7%among 65 years and above. Under treated and poorly managed knee joint pain can affect their physical, psychological, social and emotional life . Complementary medicines are used in a variety of ways; some people use them instead of conventional treatments, some alongside. Some people use them regularly and some intermittently Evidence suggests that users of complementary medicine feel non-toxic, holistic approaches to health. Herbal based home remedies proven to be effective in joint pain and swelling. Mustard based poultice is one of the best home remedy when applied with basil leaf powder in a form of plaster. Mustard acting as a counter irritant and basil being the best anti-inflammatory will be a cost effect also without any untoward reactions. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the pretest and posttest level of knee joint pain among experimental group and control group. 2. To determine the effectiveness of homemade herbal plaster application on knee joint pain among experimental group. 3. To compare the posttest level of knee joint pain among experimental group and control group. 4. To associate the level of knee joint pain with the selected demographic variables. METHODOLOGY: An experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of homemade herbal plaster application on knee joint pain among elderly (above 60 years). Quantitative research approach, Quasi experimental research design was used on two selected groups conducting pre-test and post-test studies. Study was carried out in Amma–Appa old age care Mudichur, as Experimental group and Navajeevan old age home New Perungalathur, as control group in Chennai. The data was collected using self-structured questionnaire and WOMAC index with the help of numeric rating scale for both study and control group and analyzed using mean. RESULTS: In the experimental group, the pretest level of knee joint pain median was 50.000with sum of 1448.000, the posttest level of knee joint pain median was 21.000 with the sum of 685. 000.The calculated paired ‘t’ value was 5.500 was statistically significant at p < 0.01. In the post test comparison of experimental group mean was 22.833 with S. D 14.809. In control group mean was 44.1000 with S. D 17.674. The calculated ‘t’ value-5.052 found to be statistically significant at p < 0.01. CONCLUSION: Thereby the investigator concludes that the application of home made herbal plaster is effective on reducing the level of knee joint pain among elderly (above 60 years). Hence, reduction of knee joint pain increases the functional ability of elders which lead them a better quality of life