Impairments in grip and pinch force accuracy and steadiness in people with osteoarthritis of the hand: A case-control comparison

Background: Symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (OA) is severely disabling condition. Limited evidence has focused on force control measures in this population. Objectives: It was the aim of the present study to determine whether force matching accuracy and steadiness are impaired in people with hand OA. In addition, the relationship between force control measures (accuracy and steadiness) and measures of hand function and pain in people with symptomatic hand OA was explored. Design: Case-control study. Method: Sixty-two participants with symptomatic hand OA and 26 healthy pain-free controls undertook an isometric grip and pinch force matching task at 50 % of their maximum voluntary contraction. Average pain hand pain was recorded. In addition, the Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH), and the Functional Index of Hand Osteoarthritis were collected. Results: Grip force-matching accuracy and steadiness were significantly impaired in the hand OA group compared to controls (P < 0.05). Pinch force-matching error was greater in people with hand OA (P < 0.05), however, pinch force steadiness was not different between groups. There was a learning effect in people with hand OA, with resolution of force matching impairments with task repetition. A small positive correlation was identified between grip force control and the DASH. No association was found between other measures of force control and self-reported measures of function or pain. Conclusions: People with hand OA presented with greater impairments in measures of submaximal force control. These were correlated with self-reported hand function but not pain. Future studies may wish to examine whether objective measures of functional performance are related to force-matching error and steadiness.

Automated summary

This study found that patients with hand osteoarthritis have impaired force control (accuracy and steadiness) compared to healthy controls. There was a slight positive correlation between grip force control and the DASH questionnaire, but no association was found with measures of pain. Future studies may explore the relationship between objective measures of functional performance and force-matching error and steadiness.