Efficacy of fresh herbs knee mask formula to relieve knee pain in osteoarthritis elderly patients

Efficacy of fresh herbs knee mask formula was investigated to relieve knee pain and degree of motion in 60 osteoarthritis elderly patients at Ban Dong Kham Pho Health Promoting Hospital, Waritchaphum District, SakonNakhon Province. The samples were divided into two groups as (1) patients who received fresh herbs knee mask service, and (2) patients who did not receive fresh herbs knee mask service. Experimental tools included knee pain assessment and a goniometer for range of motion. Statistical analyses were conducted using dependent and independent t-tests. The results showed that initial knee pain at a scale of 4.87 (S.D.= 1.18). After 5 days of treatment with fresh herbs knee mask service, knee pain reduced to 1.70 (S.D.= 1.19), while after 3 weeks knee pain decreased further to 1.63 (S.D.=1.45) with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) from the non-experimental group and initial stage. It is indicated that the experimental group experienced initial degrees of knee motion at 43.97 (S.D.= 13.81). After 5 days of treatment this reduced to 34.47 (S.D.= 12.85) and then remained constant after 3 weeks at 34.43 (S.D.=13.36) with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) for both the non-experimental group and initial stage.