DAMPAK LATIHAN PEREGANGAN EKSTREMITAS BAWAH TERHADAP TINGKAT NYERI SENDI PADA LANSIA

Abstract

Background: Increased life expectancy increases the risk of health disorders in the elderly due to the aging process, including degenerative diseases and non-communicable diseases. Lower extremity joint pain is a common complaint that can interfere with daily activities and reduce the quality of life of the elderly. Non-pharmacological treatments, such as leg exercises (stretching), have been proven effective in reducing pain and improving joint mobility.

Method: This study used a pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-test post-test design. The study population consisted of all elderly residents of the Binjai Elderly Social Service Unit, with a sample of 30 respondents selected based on purposive sampling with the following inclusion criteria: age ≥ 60 years, experiencing lower extremity joint pain, able to communicate and follow instructions, and willing to participate through informed consent.  Pain intensity was measured before and after the intervention using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of 0–10, then analyzed using the Wilcoxon test at a 95% confidence level (α < 0.05).

Results: The results showed that leg stretching exercises had a significant effect on reducing lower limb joint pain in older adults (p = 0.002 < 0.05). Before the intervention, the majority of older adults experienced severe pain, whereas after the exercises, the proportion of severe pain decreased, and more older adults were in the moderate and mild pain categories. These findings indicate that stretching exercises are effective in reducing the intensity of joint pain in the elderly. Conclusion: Leg movement exercises (stretching) can reduce lower extremity joint pain, improve comfort, and enhance the functional ability of the elderly. This study can serve as a model for non-pharmacological interventions in public health services, particularly for the elderly who experience activity limitations due to joint pain.