Reduced pain and improved daily activities for individuals with hand osteoarthritis using a silicone wrist hand orthosis

Jan Willem Van der Windt; Wouter Akkerman; Marloes Hofstra; Peter Meussen

doi:10.1016/j.jht.2022.09.003

Reduced pain and improved daily activities for individuals with hand osteoarthritis using a silicone wrist hand orthosis

J Hand Ther. 2023 Jul-Sep;36(3):669-677. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2022.09.003. Epub 2022 Oct 20.

Authors

Jan Willem Van der Windt¹, Wouter Akkerman², Marloes Hofstra³, Peter Meussen²

Affiliations

¹ Livit Orthopedie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jwindt@livit.nl.
² Livit Orthopedie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
³ Occupational Therapy, Xpert Handtherapie, Rotterdam.

PMID: 36272923
DOI: 10.1016/j.jht.2022.09.003

Abstract

Background: Symptoms of hand osteoarthritis (OA), such as pain, reduced grip strength, loss of range of motion (ROM) and joint stiffness, can lead to impaired hand function and difficulty with daily activities. Rehabilitative interventions with orthoses are commonly in the treatment of hand OA to reduce pain, improve hand strength and ROM, provide support for improved function and help with joint stability.

Purpose: The objectives of this perception-based study were to evaluate the effect of a silicone wrist hand orthoses (SWHO) on pain and daily functioning.

Study design: This study is a qualitative descriptive study. The patient received outcome (PRO) questions in the study were based on the Patient Rated Wrist and/or Hand Evaluation (PRWHE), a 15-item questionnaire designed to measure wrist pain and disability in activities of daily living.

Methods: Patients with OA using a SWHO were asked to complete a questionnaire about the effectiveness of the brace after wearing it for 3 weeks. Primary outcome measure was general daily functioning with and without the use of the SWHO. Secondary outcome measures were change in pain symptoms and limitations for certain activities with and without the aid.

Results: The results of this large-scale PROM study of 551 patients on the effectiveness of SWHOs in patients with hand OA show an improvement in overall daily functioning of 77% and a 61% reduction in perceived pain. This study adds to the evidence reported by systematic reviews of conservative interventions for hand OA and further quantifies the effects of a tailor made SWHO. This study confirms that wearing a wrist orthosis has a particularly significant impact on the execution of static and repetitive wrist-straining activities.

Conclusion: The study on the effectiveness of a SWHO in patients with hand OA shows that the use of a SWHO contributes to general daily function, reduces pain and increases the breadth of potential daily activities. This study shows that the use of a SWHO appears to offer pain relief and suitable support to the joint.

Keywords: ADL; Arthritis; MeSH; Orthotic Devices; Osteoarthritis; daily activities; daily occupation.