Effectiveness of Warm Moringa Leaf Compress in Reducing Knee Pain in Elderly Individuals with Gout Arthritis: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstrak

Introduction: Gout arthritis is one of the leading causes of knee pain in the elderly, resulting from increased uric acid levels that trigger joint inflammation. One potential non-pharmacological therapy is a warm compress using Moringa leaves containing flavonoids with analgesic properties.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test and post-test design involving treatment and control groups. A total of 22 participants were selected through purposive sampling and divided into two groups: 11 individuals in the intervention group and 11 in the control group. The intervention group received a warm compress using Moringa leaves, while the control group received a standard warm compress. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and independent t-tests.

Results: The intervention group experienced a significantly more significant pain reduction than the control group (p = 0.027). Paired t-test analysis indicated a significant decrease in pain within both groups (intervention: p < 0.001; control: p = 0.001). The mean pain reduction in the intervention group was more significant than in the control group, suggesting that the warm Moringa leaf compress is more effective in alleviating knee pain due to gout arthritis.

Conclusion: The warm Moringa leaf compress effectively reduces knee pain in elderly individuals with gout arthritis and may serve as a complementary non-pharmacological therapy.