A quasi experimental study to assess the effectiveness of isometric exercise on knee pain and functional mobility among the old age people with knee osteoarthritis in selected old age home at Trichy District

A study was conducted. A quasi experimental study to assess the effectiveness of isometric exercise on knee pain and functional mobility among the old age people with knee osteoarthritis in selected old age home at Trichy District. It was conducted by Mrs. Julie Arokya Mary.S. as a partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of science in Medical and Surgical Nursing department to the Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Chennai during the year of 2016- 2018. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the pre and posttest level of knee pain and functional immobility among the of old age people with knee osteoarthritis in Experimental group and Control group. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of isometric exercise on knee pain and functional immobility among the old age people with knee osteoarthritis Experimental group and Control group. 3. To correlate the level of knee pain and functional immobility among the old age people with knee osteoarthritis in Experimental group and Control group. 4. To find out the association between the levels of pain among the old age people with their selected demographic variables in the Experimental group and Control group. HYPOTHESIS: H1– The mean posttest level of knee pain score is significantly lower than the mean pretest level of knee pain score among the old age people with knee osteoarthritis in an experimental group. H2 – The mean posttest level of functional immobility is significantly higher than the mean posttest level of functional immobility score among the old age people with knee osteoarthritis in an experimental group. H3 – There will be a significant association between the posttest level of knee pain among old age people with knee osteoarthritis selected demographic variables in the control and experimental group. H4 – There will be a significant association between the posttest level functional mobility among the old age people with knee osteoarthritis in selected demographic variables in the control and experimental group. METHODS: A qualitative evaluative approach with non-equivalent control group pretest and posttest design were used. The non-probability purposive sampling technique with 60 samples were selected. 30 for experimental group and 30 for control group were assigned. The data regarding the demographic variables and with the use of ‘10’ point numerical pain the knee pain level data was collected and with the use of WOMAC scale the functional immobility data has assessed for the experimental group and control group. The investigator should give the isometric exercise only for the experimental group for 15 days twice a day no intervention to the control group. MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: The findings revealed that in the experimental group, 25 (83.3%) had severe level of knee pain, 3 (10%) had worst level of knee pain and 2 (6.7%) had 6.7% level of knee pain in the pre-test whereas in the post test after the intervention, 25 (83.3%) had moderate level of knee pain, 3 (10%) had mild level of knee pain and 2 (6.7%) had no pain. The findings also depicts that in the control group, 25 (83.3%) had severe level of knee pain, 3 (10%) had worst level of knee pain and 2(6.7%) had 6.7% level of knee pain whereas in the post test, 28 (93.3%) had severe knee pain and 2(6.7%) had worst pain. The findings revealed that in the experimental group, 28 (93.3%) were fully dependent and 2 (6.7%) were partially dependent in the pre-test, whereas in the post after the intervention, 15 (50%) were partially dependent, 12 (40%) were dependent and 3 (10%) were fully independent. The findings also portrays that in the control group, 28 (93.3%) were fully dependent and 2 (6.7%) were partially dependent in the pre-test, whereas in the post, 28(93.3%) were fully dependent and 2 (6.7%) were partially dependent. The administration of isometric exercise on knee pain was found to be effective in reducing the level of pain and improvement in functional immobility among old age people with knee osteoarthritis in the experimental group than the control group who had undergone normal hospital routine measures. CONCLUSION: The main conclusion of this present study was the isometric exercise effectively improving the level of functional immobility among old age people with knee osteoarthritis. This study clearly stated that isometric exercise plays a vital role in improving the functional immobility and reducing the knee pain among the old age people with knee osteoarthritis