title: Exercise and hand osteoarthritis symptomatology: a controlled crossover trial.
abstract: METHODS
  Randomized Clinical Trial.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Hand exercises have been recommended as treatment for hand osteoarthritis (OA) but research evidence is sparse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate effects of daily 16-week home-based hand exercise among persons with hand OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six older adults completed a crossover trial with washout between exercise and sham treatments. The AUSCAN physical function sub-scale served as the primary outcome measure. Other outcomes included pain and stiffness sub-scales, dexterity, and grip & pinch strengths.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in AUSCAN sub-scales did not differ between exercise and sham treatments. No changes in dexterity were seen. Grip and pinch measures modestly improved after exercise but not sham.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible that our exercise protocol may have been too ambitious for this age group. Future research will further the understanding of the role of hand exercise in hand OA symptomatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  2b.
authors.affiliation: The Arthritis Research Institute of America, Clearwater, Florida 33755, USA. mrogers@preventarthritis.org
authors.forename: Matthew Wayne
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Frances Vaughn
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Wilder
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*