Journal
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM-ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
Volume 47, Issue 1, Pages 44-49Publisher
WILEY-LISS
DOI: 10.1002/art1.10246
Keywords
hand osteoarthritis; joint protection; hand exercises
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Objective. To determine the effect of joint protection and home exercises on hand function of patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. Randomized, controlled, 3-month trial with a blinded assessor. Primary outcome parameter was grip strength; secondary parameters were Health Assessment Questionnaire and visual analog scales (VAS) for pain and global hand function. Forty patients with hand OA were randomly assigned to 2 groups: One group received instruction for joint protection and home hand exercises (JPE group), the control group received an information session about hand OA. Results. Grip strength improved by 25% in the JPE group (right hand, P < 0.0001; left hand, P = 0.0005), but not in the control group. Global hand function (by VAS) improved in a larger proportion (65%) of patients in the JPE group (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Joint protection and hand home exercises, easily administered and readily acceptable interventions, were found to increase grip strength and global hand function.
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