We use our hands for nearly every task that we do. Those tasks can require lots of different elements of the hand’s abilities, from powerful grip postures to complex fine tasks. In later life, osteoarthritis can make some of those tasks difficult or painful.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a joint dysfunction that can affect many joints in your body: in the hand it most commonly seen in the base of the thumb (the carpo-metacarpal joint), but it can also affect the small joints in the fingers. Your joints may feel stiff or tender and may look large and deformed.
This may mean you can experience discomfort in the joints and difficulty with everyday tasks especially those involving applying strong force and twisting at the same time, such as turning keys, opening jars, and in precision tasks such as writing or sewing.
How Physiotherapy can help
Physiotherapy management initially consists of educating you about the condition and how to manage it, especially when it feels like your joints have flared up and are more painful than usual. There are ways of managing these flare ups and learning how to avoid them in future.
An exercise program will usually consist of maintaining and improving joint mobility and strengthening the tendons and muscles around the affected joints to give them their own internal support.
There are various types of supportive splints and gloves that can be used to rest painful joints and assist in function when needed. The hand physiotherapists at Total are skilled in determining which is the most suitable splint depending on the extent of pain and functional difficulties.
Other ways to manage Osteoarthritis
Pain relieving techniques at home, such as use of heat or ice, and pacing your activities, can be helpful.
Diet also plays an important role in managing some of the symptoms of arthritis and we can give some advice on this or recommend a nutritionist to give more detailed information.
If you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the hands or have sore joints, book in to see one of our friendly and expert hand physiotherapists today!
by Jane Leathwood
Grad.Dip. Physiotherapy
Hand Physiotherapist
