Exercise and Hand Osteoarthritis Symptomatology: A Controlled Crossover Trial
published online 17 November 2008.
Abstract
Study Design
Randomized Clinical Trial.
Introduction
Hand exercises have been recommended as treatment for hand osteoarthritis (OA) but research evidence is sparse.
Purpose of the Study
To investigate effects of daily 16-week home-based hand exercise among persons with hand OA.
Methods
Forty-six older adults completed a crossover trial with washout between exercise and sham treatments. The AUSCAN physical function sub-scale served as the primary outcome measure. Other outcomes included pain and stiffness sub-scales, dexterity, and grip & pinch strengths.
Results
Changes in AUSCAN sub-scales did not differ between exercise and sham treatments. No changes in dexterity were seen. Grip and pinch measures modestly improved after exercise but not sham.
Conclusions
It is possible that our exercise protocol may have been too ambitious for this age group. Future research will further the understanding of the role of hand exercise in hand OA symptomatology.
Level of Evidence
2b.
The Arthritis Research Institute of America, Clearwater, Florida
Correspondence and reprint requests to Matthew Wayne Rogers, MS, CSCS, The Arthritis Research Institute of America, 300 S Duncan Avenue, Suite 188, Clearwater, FL 33755.
This project was presented at the May, 2008 American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting in Indianapolis. The authors report no conflicts of interest in the conduct or reporting of this research. This project was supported in part by a product grant from The Hygenic Corporation, which provided the Thera-Band® Hand Exercisers (The Hygenic Corporation, Akron, OH).
ABSTRACT