The Effect of Hand Moxibustion Therapy on Knee Joint Pain, Joint Range of Motion and Discomfort during ADL in Elderly People

수지뜸요법이 노인의 슬관절통증, 관절가동범위 및 일상생활활동 불편감에 미치는 영향

Purpose: This study was done for the purpose of testing the effects of hand moxibustion on pain in the knee joint, range of motion of the knee, and discomfort during ADL in elderly persons with knee joint pain. Method: Nonequivalent control group pre-post test research design was used. The participants were 35 elders who had knee joint pain. Sixteen were assigned to the experimental group and 19 to the control group. The instruments used for this study were the CRS (Graphic rating scale) for knee joint pain, goniometer for knee joint ROM, and modified ADL questionnaire developed by Lee. Analysis of data was done by percents, means and standard deviation, $x^2$-test, t-test, and ANCOVA using SPSS WIN 10.0. Result: The pain score for the right knee joint after hand moxibustion was significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after hand moxibustion (p=.035). The pain score for the left knee joint was not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after hand moxibustion (p=.075). Right and left knee ROM scores were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after hand moxibustion (Right p=.000, Left p=.034). Discomfort of ADL score was not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after hand moxibustion (p=.053). Conclusion: In summary, knee joint pain in elders after hand moxibustion decreased and knee ROM in elders after hand moxibustion increased. So it would be useful for nurses to provide hand moxibustion as an alternative therapy to elders with knee joint pain in the community and thus reduce joint pain and increase knee ROM.