title: Contralateral sensory and motor effects of unilateral kaltenborn mobilization in patients with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a secondary analysis.
abstract: [Purpose] The aim of this study was to determine changes in pressure sensitivity and pinch strength in patients with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) in the contralateral hand after unilateral Kaltenborn mobilization on the symptomatic hand. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-nine females with dominant hand thumb CMC osteoarthritis participated (age 70-90), and were randomized into 2 groups. The experimental group received a Kaltenborn mobilization, and the placebo group received a nontherapeutic dose of intermittent ultrasound. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) at the thumb CMC joint, scaphoid bone and hamate bone and tip and tripod pinch strength were assessed before and after the intervention and 1 week (1st follow-up) and 2 weeks (2nd follow-up) after the intervention. [Results] Significant increases in PPT in the experimental group at all follow-up periods as compared with baseline data were found. The post-intervention between-group mean differences for PPT were 1.1 (95%CI 0.4-1.8) for the CMC joint, 1.1 (95%CI 0.2-2.1) for the scaphoid, and 1.5 (95%CI 0.5-2.8) for the hamate. The post-intervention between-group mean differences were 0.5 (95%CI 0.2-0.9) for the tip pinch and 0.3 (95%CI 0.1-0.6) for the tripod pinch. [Conclusion] The current secondary analysis found that Kaltenborn mobilization for the symptomatic hand reduces pressure pain sensitivity (PPT increases) and also produces motor changes in the contralateral non-treated hand compared with a placebo group.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Italy.
authors.forename: Jorge H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Villafañe
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernandez de-Las-Peñas
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry Sciences, Catholic University of Cordoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Guillermo B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Italy ; Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negrini
keywords: Carpometacarpal osteoarthritis; Kaltenborn mobilization; Pressure pain threshold