Abstract:
Pain is a critical and common problem in the degenerative knee joint disease. Leg muscles exercise training is a nonpharmacotherapeutic intervention which reduces pain in long term care. This quasi-experimental research assesses the effect of leg muscles exercise program to help reduce pain in patients with the degenerative knee joint disease (n = 60). The experimental group which consisted of thirty patients with the degenerative knee joint disease (n = 30) received leg muscles exercise program while the other group of thirty patients received usual care (n = 30). The numerical rating scale (NRS) was obtained at pre-intervention and follow-ups were done at 2nd, 4th, 6th weeks. The effect of leg muscles exercise program was evaluated using independent t-test and paired t-test. The intervention group showed statistically lower pain level than the control group at all three post-intervention time points (p < 0.001). When the two groups were compared at the three time points, the pain level showed statistical significance in Week 2 (Mean = 4.53 ± 1.96; 5.70 ± 1.29, p < 0.01), Week 4 (Mean = 2.40 ± 1.52; 6.23 ± 1.36, p < 0.001) and Week 6 (Mean = 1.60 ± 1.13; 6.37 ± 2.07, p < 0.001). The leg muscles exercise program was more effective than usual care in reducing pain in patients with the degenerative knee joint disease in community. Longitudinal follow-ups and more alternative interventions produced under experimental conditions are needed to determine for the timely reduction of pain and also for the reduction of risks of the more severe degenerative knee joint disease.
WALAILAK UNIVERSITY. CENTER FOR LIBRARY RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL MEDIA