물리치료 마사지를 통한 수기요법이 노인들의 신체기능 개선에 미치는 영향

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The Effects of Hand Therapy on Rehabilitation and Treatment of the Elderly

Choi, Woong Advisor : Prof. Suh, Chae-Hong, Ph.D. Department of Alternative Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences Chosun University

This study was performed to examine the effects of hand therapy on rehabilitation treatment of the elderly who experience deterioration of vital organs as they age. A survey was carried out among 60 men and 60women over the age of 60 visiting Gwangju city's contemporary and oriental hospitals that specialize in rehabilitation treatment for the elderly from October 1 to October 30, 2011. The results are summarized as follows.

First, the effect of hand therapy factors on pain relief showed that skin, muscle and joint factors had a statistically significant positive effect on the relief of pain(p<.05). Second, the effect of hand therapy on the increase of metabolism showed that muscle and joint factors had a statistically significant positive effect on the increase of metabolism(p<.01). Third, the effect of hand therapy factors on functional improvements showed that muscle, joint and pain factors had a statistically significant positive effect on the unctional improvements (p<.05).

These findings suggested that rehabilitation & treatment of the elderly through a hand therapy was an effective mechanism for the relief of chronic pain, the increase of metabolism and functional improvements in later years of the elderly. Ultimately, the utilization of hand massage should be encouraged as a treatment procedure to improve skin, muscle, joint and pain factors of the elderly. Also this study showed that hand massages significantly improved skin, muscle, joint and pain compared to a general massages. It seems that such hand massages may be beneficial to public health when performed safely as a mediation method because there are side effects. Consequently, hand massages are effective for the reducing pain as well as improving the conditions of elderly patients' geriatric diseases. Moreover, well-established effects of hand massage such as increasing metabolism and relieving pain should be complimented with additional effects like functional improvements.