Effect of Graded Motor Imagery for Kinesiophobia on Pain and Function for Institutionalised Elder People with Knee Osteoarthritis

PURPOSE To evaluate the degree of kinesiophobia using the TAMPA scale pre and post treatment and the effect of graded motor imagery for kinesiophobia for pain, function and osteoarthritis by using the Pain Self Efficacy scale and WOMAC scale respectively pre and post treatment. Methods The present experimental study was conducted among 28 participants which included both male and female symptomatic participants between the age of 65 to 85 years with knee osteoarthritis. The participants were given graded motor imagery which is a three stage process involving Left/Right discrimination training, Explicit motor imagery and mirror therapy which was given for 6 weeks, per phase given for two weeks each. Outcome measures like TAMPA was used to evaluate the degree of kinesiophobia. WOMAC scale to evaluate components like pain, stiffness and physical function in patients with osteoarthritis and Pain Self Efficacy scale to evaluate the degree of pain in the participants. Result The pre intervention scores for TAMPA were 51.04 and post intervention it decreased to 33.32. The p value was found to be (p=0.001*) which was highly significant. The pre test score for pain self efficacy was 39.82 and post test score decreased to 31.36. The subjects mean pre test scores for WOMAC in the experimental group were 67.07 and post intervention it decreased to 46.75. Conclusion The study concludes that the effects of graded motor imagery shows improvement in pain and function for institutionalised elder people with knee OA. It also decreases kinesiophobia.