Highlights
- •The current evidence generally supports the use of active range of motion, some resistive exercises, and joint protection as interventions for individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) finger joints.
- •The current evidence generally supports modalities such as electromagnetic therapy, paraffin wax, and balneotherapy (combined and/or not combined with mud packs and magnetotherapy) as effective interventions for individuals with OA finger joints.
- •The current evidence generally supports distal interphalangeal joint orthoses as effective treatment interventions for individuals with OA finger joints.
Abstract
Study Design
Systematic review.
Introduction
Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and disabling disease causing pain and functional
limitations in approximately 54%-67% of the adult population aged 55 years and older.
Purpose of the Study
The objective of the study is to evaluate the evidence supporting conservative therapeutic
interventions for the treatment of OA finger joints.
Methods
Eighteen studies dated between 1979 and 2016 were identified meeting the inclusion
criteria. They were analyzed based on Structured Effectiveness for Quality Evaluation
of a Study, level of evidence, and effect size.
Results and Conclusions
The current evidence varies in quality and effect sizes but generally supports the
use of active range of motion and resistive exercises, joint protection, electromagnetic
therapy, paraffin wax, and balneotherapy (combined and/or not combined with mud packs
and magnetotherapy), and distal interphalangeal orthoses as effective treatment interventions
for individuals with OA finger joints.
Keywords
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JHT Read for Credit
Quiz: # 603
Record your answers on the Return Answer Form found on the tear-out coupon at the back of this issue or to complete online and use a credit card, go to JHTReadforCredit.com. There is only one best answer for each question.
- #1.The study design is
- a.RCTs
- b.qualitative
- c.a case series
- d.a systematic review of existing literature on the topic
- a.
- #2.Using X-ray verification techniques it has been shown that in adults over 55 years of age there is an approximately _____________ % likelihood of having OA of the small joints of the hand
- a.25
- b.35-40
- c.45-55
- d.75-85
- a.
- #3.The distribution of OA is
- a.approximately the same in the DIPs and PIPs
- b.significantly greater in the PIPs than the DIPs
- c.significantly greater in the DIPs than the PIPs
- d.most pronounced in the MPs
- a.
- #4.In addition to statistical and clinical significance, the authors looked at the
- a.degree of difficulty in applying the techniques described
- b.effect size of each study
- c.popularity of the concepts described
- d.availability of the journals containing each study
- a.
- #5.Modest evidence was found to support resistive exercise to improve ROM and grip strength
- a.false
- b.true
- a.
When submitting to the HTCC for re-certification, please batch your JHT RFC certificates in groups of 3 or more to get full credit.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 15, 2018
Accepted:
January 2,
2018
Received in revised form:
December 27,
2017
Received:
September 12,
2017
Footnotes
Conflict of interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest to disclose.
Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Hanley & Belfus, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
