Effectiveness of Isometric Exercise and Counseling on Level of Pain Among Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

INTRODUCTION: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the emerging health issues in Asian countries in elderly population. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a major age related public health issue characterized by progressive loss of articular cartilage resulting in pain, functional impairment, disability and diminished quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Isometric exercise and counseling on level of pain among patients with KOA. METHODS: Quantitative research approach and a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group research design was utilized. The study was conducted at MIOT hospital and Devadoss Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Data was collected from a total of 200 patients with KOA, 100 in the study and 100 in the control group. These patients were clinically diagnosed to have Grade I, II and III KOA. The demographic variables and clinical profile were recorded for both groups. The self-administered WOMAC questionnaire was used to assess the level of pain of KOA patients. Post-test assessment was carried out on Day 15, Day 30, Day 60 and Day 90. The data was analyzed using SPSS windows 16. RESULTS: The comparison of level of pain between the study and control group has showed a remarkable reduction in level of pain among patients with KOA in the study group. The post-test level of pain in the study group was 14.9% (13.3% -16.5% with 95% CI) and was 2.1% (1.2% -3.0% with 95% CI) in the control group. It showed that the reduction in the level of pain was higher in the study group than the control group. CONCLUSION: The study found that a 12-week Isometric exercise and counseling program has significantly reduced pain, stiffness and improved physical function. Therefore, the Isometric exercise and counselling should be adopted as a routine care in the hospitals treating patients with KOA.