Managing Osteoarthritis: Article Critique, The Aim of Study

MANAGING OSTEOARTHRITIS
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Article Critique
The name of the journal from which the article is derived is Holistic Nursing Practice. The journal was published in 2011 and its volume number is 25. The key words from the abstract of the article include: osteoarthritis, Reiki, yoga, and Holist Nurs Pract 2011;25(6):316-326.
The aim of this study was to determine whether chair yoga and Reiki techniques affect pain, physical functions, and depressive states in comparison with an exclusively educational and discussion program in older adults suffering from osteoarthritis (OA).
The study is based on a theoretical framework known as the gate control theory of pain. The gate control theory of pain is based on the understanding that chronic pain has both mental as well as physical elements.
Pilkington, Kirkwood, Rampes, and Richardson (2005) define yoga as a harmony creation therapy. The researchers posit that the therapy brings about a state of harmony between the mind and body in order to maintain health and a state of well-being in an individual. Normally, yoga consists of five major principles: (a) adequate relaxation, (b) adequate exercise, (c) adequate breathing, (d) adequate diet, and (e) meditation. Interventions using yoga therapies have been extensively studied in several populations, and have been found to play a significant role in reducing stress and depression. For example, a certain study seeking to evaluate the importance of a 24-week yoga program on pain, medication usage, physical function, and mental state in a group of osteoarthritis patients found a significant reduction in the level of lower back pain in the chair yoga group. Additionally, the OA patients achieved improved physical functions and reduced depressive states. The control group did not achieve any reduction in pain, depression, or use of pain medication.
On the other hand, Reiki therapy is considered a healing therapy that utilizes some form of energy from the hands of a Reiki practitioner; the practitioner channels bodily energies to the recipient. It is thought that by directing the bodily energies into the recipient, some form of harmony and balance is provided; the harmony and balance yielded helps in improving the spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional well-being of a person. The effects of a form of Reiki studied in a group of 300 participants showed significant improvements in physical and psychological functions.
This particular research is categorized as applied research. Applied research is normally conducted to study a specific situation or phenomenon and come up with new ideas and solutions. This particular research was carried out to determine the effects of chair yoga, Reiki and education programs on management of osteoarthritis pain, emotional health, physical functioning, and well-being. The study is also confirmatory because it seeks to confirm whether already known treatment regimens are indeed significant in alleviating several challenges in osteoarthritis.
The study is also a mixed methods type of research. A mixed methods research comprises all elements of both quantitative and qualitative research. In quantitative research, several statistical methods of...