테이핑요법이 퇴행성 슬관절염 노인의 통증 및 신체기능에 미치는 효과

Effects of Taping Therapy on Pain and Physical Functions of Aged People with Degenerative Knee Arthritis

Purpose: This study was to examine the effect of a taping therapy on pain relief and the improvement of daily living for elderly having degenerative knee arthritis. Method: This study was conducted with a non-equivalent control-group pre-test and post-test design. Data were collected conveniently with 63 elderly who had having(a) pain due to degenerative knee arthritis, and (b) inconvenience in daily life(30 for an experimental group and 33 for a control group). The subjects were recruited from the elderly, participating in welfare programs held in a welfare organization and day-care facilities. The experimental group received an intervention of taping therapy offered twice a week, for 4 weeks. The data collection from the experimental group was done from the beginning of the therapy throughout two weeks later after the end of the therapy. Results: For the experimental group, pain scores came to more decreased significantly, as the periods in which taping therapy was conducted were getting longer. Physical function scores became also more decreased at significantly level, as taping therapy was more conducted. However, compared to the control group, the score change for the experimental was not significantly showed in physical function after the therapy ended. That is, there was no longer-lasting effect on physical function improvement. Conclusion: This study found that this therapy could be a useful self-management method that the elderly with degenerative knee arthritis can use easily at home. Because of insignificant result in longer-lasting effect, this taping therapy would be applied properly with the interval of 2~3days.