Effectiveness of natural clay therapy on level of pain among women with knee osteoarthritis admitted in selected hospital at Tiruvannamalai

Abstract

A quasi experimental study was carried out in government medical college and hospital at Tiruvannamalai to evaluate the natural clay therapy on pain among women with knee osteoarthritis (OA). A total 60 samples were selected by using non-probability convenience sampling technique and the sample was equally divided into Experimental Group (30) and Control Group (30). The natural clay was applied 30 minutes per day for seven days to the experimental group and control group received routine care. Data was collected before and after intervention by structured questionnaire containing demographic variables, and intensity of pain was assessed by using visual analog scale. The study results revealed that the pre test mean score of pain in experimental group was 13.53 with S.D 1.19 and control group was 13.17 with S.D 1.15. The calculated unpaired ‘t’ test value t= 1.19 was found to be statistically not significant. The post-test mean score of pain in experimental group was 9.12 with S.D 1.18 and control group was 13.93 with S.D 1.14 The calculated unpaired ‘t’ test value t= 16.05 was statistically significant at p<0.001 level. The study concluded that the natural clay therapy was effective in reduction of pain among women with osteoarthritis in experimental group then the control group. As a natural element it does not show any side effects which is also available and affordable at near reach and improves quality of life of women with knee osteoarthritis.