J Nurs Acad Soc.  1993 Mar;23(1):107-117.

The Effect of the Range of Motion Exercise on Powerlessness and Life Satisfaction in the Elderly

• Shin JS

Abstract

This study was a clinical Quasi-experiment to examine the effects of the range of motion exercise on powerlessness and life satisfaction among the E-Institutionalized elderly in Pusan. The purpose was to test the effect of the range of motion exercises on powerlessness and life satisfaction, and to examine the correlation between powerlessness and life satisfaction. The subjects for this study were 54 elderly people, both were over 60 and residing at E-Institution in Pusan. The research samples of 54 elderly were divided into an experimental and control group by matching randomized assignment. The instruments for this study were the Assessment Tool of Powerlessness in the elderly developed by Miller, Life satisfaction developed by Yoon Jin, and the Active-Passive Range of Motion Exercise Program which was developed and utilized by Shin, Jae-Shin. The data were collected from December 15, 1990 to November 1991. The paired t-test, t-test and ANCOVA were used to test hypothesis I and II. related to the Effect of the Range of Motion Exercises to powerlessness and life satisfaction. To identify the relationship of the range of motion exercises to powerlessness and life satisfaction, path analysis was done through multiple regression. The interrelationship of the variables was analyzed using t-test paired t-test. The results of the three hypothesis can be summarized as follows: 1. Hypothesis 1 -the experimental group which participated in the Range of Motion Exercise gets lower powerlessness score than that of the control group-was accepted by t-test (t=-3.40, p=.001) but not accepted by ANCOVA (F=.1, p=.96). 2. Hypothesis II -the experimental group which participated in the Range of Motion Exercise gets a higher Life Satisfaction Score than that of the control group-waa not supported by t-test(t=1.01, p=.316) but was accepted by ANCOVA (F=4.39. p=.006). 3. Hypothesis ?-if the powerlessness Score becomes higher, the Life Satisfaction Score will become lower- was accepted by Pearson Correlation Coefficient (pre exercise: r=-.34, p;=.006), (post exercise: r=-.06, p=.32): The relationship between the score of powerlessness and life satisfaction was negatively correlated. The results obtained clearly showed that the ef fects of the range of motion exercises on powerlessness and life satisfaction are beneficial to the elderly. The relation between the scores of powerlessness and life satisfaction was negatively correlated and the range of motion exercise had a direct influence to powerlessness. Therefore, it is concluded that the relationship between powerlessness and life satisfaction was not a causal one. Also it is concluded that the range of motion exercises can be applied as a nursing intervention to reduce powerlessness and to improve life satisfaction in the elderly.

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Busan
Exercise
Humans
Nursing
Range of Motion, Articular*