Complementary Therapy in Handling Osteoarthritis Pain at the Posyandu Lansia "Yudistira" RW II Tanjungrejo Village, Sukun District, Malang City

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative and progressive joint disease that affects patients in old age or adulthood where the cartilage that protects the ends of the bones begins to break down, accompanied by reactive changes in the joint edges and subchondral bone. OA usually affects weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees, or vertebrae, but can also affect the shoulders, finger joints, and ankles. OA affects the knee more often than other joint locations, because the knee joint supports more of the body's weight.

Osteortritis is one of the most common types of rheumatic diseases found in the elderly in Indonesia, with an incidence rate ranging from 50-60%. Osteoarthritis and bone disorders cause joint pain. Many people, especially the elderly, treat joint pain in various ways that are considered capable of overcoming and alleviating joint pain. This shows that the pain felt due to OA is very disturbing in the lives of the elderly so that the elderly experience problems in carrying out activities. Besides that, there are still many views of the Indonesian people who underestimate this disease because it does not seem to pose a life threat, even though the pain caused by this disease is actually a very disturbing obstacle for people to carry out daily activities.

The Community Service Program for Complementary Therapy in Handling Osteoarthritis Pain at the Posyandu Lansia "Yudistira" RW II Tanjungrejo Village, Sukun District, Malang City is motivated by the problems faced by partners, namely the high morbidity of degenerative diseases, especially complaints of joint pain in the elderly. The activity aims to provide free information, consultation and acupuncture and acupressure services to people with Osteoarthritis. As a form of assistance for residents to form groups on social media that are used for further health consultations during the pandemic.