Abstract
The aims of the present study were to explore the effectiveness of an acupressure programme in relieving chronic knee pain and depression by enhancing mobility and activities of daily living among older persons in nursing homes. It was a quasi-experimental pre- and post test control group design. The study was conducted in four nursing homes, where a total of 62 subjects suffering from chronic knee pain were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Acupressure sessions were given to the experimental groups twice a week over four weeks, while the control groups continued to receive the conventional care in their own nursing homes. Baseline pain intensity for the experimental and control groups was 4.69 and 4.07 respectively (p>0.05). Upon completion of the acupressure therapy, there was a significant decrease in the mean pain score in the experimental group, from 4.69 to 1.59 (p<0.001), a significantly decreased depression level and improved mobility and activities of daily living (p<0.05). This finding suggests that acupressure is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for relieving chronic knee pain in nursing home residents.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 339-410 |
| Number of pages | 72 |
| Journal | Journal of Pain Management |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Acupressure
- Chronic pain
- Intervention
- Non-pharmacological
- Older persons