A study to assess the effectiveness of stretching exercises on pain, stiffness and performance of activity of old age people with knee osteoarthritis in selected old age home, Chennai.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common health problem affecting elderly people with the knee being one of the most commonly affected areas. Knee osteoarthritis contributes to symptoms of knobby swelling at the joint, cracking or grinding noise on joint movement with joint pain, stiffness and decreased function of the joint as the main primary symptoms making it hard to perform the daily activities. A study, therefore, was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of stretching exercises on pain, stiffness and performance of activity of old age people with knee osteoarthritis in selected old age home ? Chennai. The sample consists of 60 inmates of the selected old age home. Using purposive sampling technique, 30 samples were in the experimental group and another 30 samples in the control group. In order to assess the level of symptoms of knee osteoarthritis WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index (Western Ontario Mc Master University Osteoarthritis Index) was used. Results revealed that the stretching group showed significant improvements in level of symptoms (pain, stiffness, activity limitation) of knee osteoarthritis from 32.6 to 13.6 i.e, mean pre test and post test, while the control group didn?t show any significant differences. The difference was found to be statistically significant at p<0.001. Stretching exercises therefore have benefits in reducing the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis among patients with knee osteoarthritis.