Effectiveness of therapeutic exercise on pain intensity among older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A study in an Indonesian primary care setting

Abstract

Background: According to data from RISKESDAS 2018, approximately 713,783 people (7.3%) in Indonesia are affected by osteoarthritis. The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Health Office estimated that in 2018, there were 14,825 individuals aged 15 and older suffering from osteoarthritis in NTB, which included 7,784 women and 7,041 men. Osteoarthritis is a common issue among the elderly. One of the contributing factors is lifestyle changes and the effects of ageing, which can negatively impact the health of older adults due to hormonal shifts. A recommended preventive measure for seniors is engaging in senior exercise.

Method: This study employs a quantitative approach. The population consists of 107 elderly individuals aged 60 to 75 years who have osteoarthritis, all of whom attend the Pagesangan Mataram Health Centre. A sample of 52 respondents was selected using a purposive sampling technique. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest format; data collection involved the use of the T-test statistical method.

Results: The study showed that, out of the 52 respondents, 11 experienced mild osteoarthritis pain, 37 had moderate pain, and 4 reported severe pain. The T-test resulted in a p-value of less than α (0.00 < 0.05), indicating a significant effect. Thus, it can be concluded that exercise therapy effectively reduces osteoarthritis pain in elderly individuals aged 60 to 75 years at the Pagesangan Mataram Health Centre.

Conclusion: The study concludes that exercise therapy has a positive effect on reducing osteoarthritis pain in elderly participants aged 60 to 75 years at the Pagesangan Mataram Health Centre. The correlation coefficient value of 0.98 indicates a strong relationship between exercise and pain reduction.