In a nutshell
This study examined the effectiveness of different types of hand exercises in women with rheumatoid arthritis or hand osteoarthritis. The authors concluded that some hand exercises may not be as effective as others for treating arthritis.
Some background
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hand osteoarthritis (HOA) experience reduced hand function. Certain hand exercises are commonly recommended to improve hand function. These exercises are usually more focused on grip force and not the ability to extend the muscles. Both of these muscle functions should be taken into account when creating an exercise program for patients with arthritis.
Methods & findings
20 patients with RA, 16 patients with HOA and 20 healthy patients were included in this study. All patients performed a variety of hand exercises and common daily activities. The hand exercises included were squeezing putty, rolling putty with a flat hand, extending the fingers and pinching the putty between a finger and thumb. The daily activities included were writing with a pen, locking a door with a key, cutting with a scissors and pulling up a zipper. Muscle activity in the hands was measured using electrodes.
The study showed that rolling dough with a flat hand requires very little muscle activity compared to the other exercises included. It also showed that the muscle activity required by arthritis patients for everyday activities is higher than healthy patients. These activities included cuttin with scissors, writing with a pen, pulling up a zipper, and using a key.
The bottom line
This study concluded that patients with RA and HOA require higher levels of muscle activity when performing common daily tasks. The authors suggested that some exercises, such as rolling putty, may not be as beneficial as others when treating patients with arthritis in their hands.
The fine print
This study was carried out on a very small group of patients.
What’s next?
Consult with your physician about effective treatments for hand osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Published By :
BMC musculoskeletal disorders
Date :
May 24, 2014
