PURPOSE This study was to examine the effect of electrical muscle stimulation therapy on chronic knee pain and depression for the aged. METHOD Design was one-group pretest-posttest design. Samples were 32 elderly of 60 years old and above with chronic knee pain and depression. Measures were the S-F McGill Pain Questuionnaire for chronic knee pain and the Korean Elderly Depression Scale for depression. Electrical muscle stimulation therapy, experimental treatment, was applied for 12 weeks, 3 times/week, 15 min/time. Data were collected from January 2005 to May 2005. Data were analyzed using SPSS PC+ 12 version. RESULTS After receiving electrical muscle stimulation therapy, chronic knee pain (t=-88.034, P=.000) and depression (t=-114.659, P=.000) were significantly decreased. CONCLUSION Electrical muscle stimulation therapy can be a better effective primary nursing intervention on chronic knee pain and depression for community dwelling elders.
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