PURPOSE
This study was to examine the effects of electric stimulation therapy on chronic knee pain, exercise self-efficacy, and quality of life in Korean elderly women.
METHODS
The design was an unequivalent control pretest-posttest study. Samples were total of 60 (experimental: 30, control: 30) elderly women with healthy cognitive and communication abilities aged 65 years old and above. The experimental treatment involved was the electric stimulation of both thigh quadriceps muscles for 15 minutes per treatment, 3times per a week, for a total of 12 weeks. Measurements taken were S-F MPQ and AIMS for chronic knee pain, exercise self-efficacy measurement for exercise self-efficacy, and S-F 36 scale for quality of life. Data were analyzed using SPSS PC+ 12.
RESULTS
Chronic knee pain according to the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (t=43.563, p=.000) and Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (t=31.364, p=.000) were significantly decreased in the experimental group by the application of electrical stimulation therapy. Exercise self-efficacy (t=107.116, p=.000) and quality of life (t=76.429, p=.000) were significantly increased in the experimental group by the application of electrical stimulation therapy.
CONCLUSION
Electrical stimulation therapy could be a more effective primary nursing intervention in decreasing chronic knee pain, and on increasing exercise self-efficacy and quality of life for Korean elderly women.
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