• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.218-227
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• 2019

This study examined the effects of balance taping therapy on improving knee pain and the obstacles to daily activity in rural elderly women. The research design was a quasi-experimental research using a non-equivalent control group pre-test and post-test design. The data were collected from January 19th to April 14th, 2017. The research subjects included female elderly over 65 years old who visited 12 senior centers located at Y city in rural areas. The participants were composed of 26 people in the experimental group and 28 people in the control group. Data were collected before and 24 hours after balance taping therapy, and the pain and obstacles to daily activity were measured. The collected data were analyzed using the PASW Statistics 23 Program, which included a $X^2-test$, Shapiro-Wilk test, and Mann-Whitney U test. After the intervention, significant differences were observed in the knee pain (Z=-6.658, p<.001) and obstacles to daily activity (Z=-3.466, p=.001). With regard to lower domain variables of the obstacles to daily activity, significant differences in standing up (Z=-2.860, p=.004), daily activity (Z=-2.629, p=.009), walking (Z=-3.868, p<.001), and dressing up (Z=-2.049, p=.040) were observed between the two groups. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in grip (Z=-.542, p=.588) and arm stretching (Z=-.416, p=.678). In conclusion, applying balance taping to rural elderly women clearly decreases the level of knee pain, reduces the obstacles to daily activity, and improves their quality of life.