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Effect of home-based hand exercises in women with hand osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial |
Hennig T, Haehre L, Hornburg VT, Mowinckel P, Norli ES, Kjeken I |
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2015 Aug;74(8):1501-1508 |
clinical trial |
8/10 [Eligibility criteria: No; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: Yes; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: Yes; Adequate follow-up: Yes; Intention-to-treat analysis: Yes; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed* |
BACKGROUND: Hand exercises are recommended for patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOA), though evidence for their effect is conflicting. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in a randomised controlled trial, the effect of HOA information plus home-based hand exercises (exercise group) compared with information only (control group) in women with HOA. METHODS: Interventions were delivered by two occupational therapists. Exercise group participants received eight follow-up calls over the 3-month study and recorded adherence, pain after exercises and adverse events in a diary. Primary outcome was activity performance measured after 3 months by the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), with a range of 0 to 10. Secondary outcomes were measurements of hand function, disease activity, symptoms and number of responders to treatment according to the OMERACT-OARSI criteria. RESULTS: Of 80 women randomised (40:40) (mean age (SD) 60.8 years (7.0)), follow-up was 89% (n = 71). An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. The adjusted mean difference for the exercise versus control group was 1.4 points (95% CI 0.6 to 2.2, effect size 1.0) for the PSFS score. Thirteen patients in the exercise group versus three participants in the control group reached a positive minimal clinical important difference of 2.2 points in the PSFS total score, while none versus two, respectively, had a negative change (p = 0.007). For secondary outcomes, significant mean differences were found in grip strength and thumb web space, in fatigue, joint pain and the Functional Index for HOA activity performance scores. Sixteen exercise-group participants fulfilled the OMERACT-OARSI response criteria versus two control-group participants (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hand exercises were well tolerated and significantly improved activity performance, grip strength, pain and fatigue in women with HOA. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRTCN79019063.
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