Efficacy of Hot Fomentation with Epsom Salt on Reduction of Knee Pain and Inability Among Geriatrics with Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Quasi-experimental pretest posttest control group research design was adopted to investigate the efficacy of hot fomentation with Epsom salt on reduction of knee pain and inability among 60 geriatrics with osteoarthritis in the Geriatric Clinic at Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC), Madhuravoyal. The pretest inability and pain level was assessed using WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index , followed by that, hot fomentation with Epsom salt was applied over knee joint for the duration of 20 minutes twice a day for a period of 2 weeks and the posttest was reassessed using same WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index . The pretest and posttest mean score of knee joint pain in the interventional group was 76.07±6.89 ,41.70±11.94 with mean difference 34.37. The calculated paired ‘t’ test value of t = 13.788 was found to be statistically significant at p<0.001 level which clearly infers that there was reduction in the level of knee joint pain after the administration of Hot fomentation with Epsom Salt among geriatrics with osteoarthritis in the interventional group. The pretest and posttest mean score of knee joint pain in the placebo group was 75.07±7.68 75.03±6.99 with mean difference score 0.04. The calculated paired ‘t’ test value of t = 0.103 was not found to be statistically significant which clearly infers that there was no significant reduction in the level of knee joint pain in the placebo group. The calculated students independent ‘t’ test value of t = 0.103 in the pretest between the interventional and placebo group was not found to be statistically significant. The calculated students independent ‘t’ test value of t = 13.189 with mean difference score of 33.33 in the post test between the interventional and placebo group was found to be statistically significant at p<0.001 level. This clearly infers that Hot fomentation with Epsom Salt administered among the geriatrics with osteoarthritis in the interventional group was found to be effective in reduction in the knee joint pain than the elderly people with osteoarthritis.