Why does thumb arthritis affect your brain?

The human thumb is special. It can move in ways that help us pinch, grasp, and hold objects, thanks to a little joint called the trapeziometacarpal joint (TMC). But if you have thumb arthritis, or rhizarthrosis, doing these everyday actions might cause too much pain—or even become impossible. This article explores how thumb arthritis may affect not just your thumb, but also your brain.

Here are three key takeaways from recent research:

• Thumb arthritis can make hand movements slower, even if they’re only imagined.
• Your brain reacts differently during real movements vs. imagined ones.
• Motor imagery may be an important tool for recovery after treatment.

In this article:

• How does thumb arthritis affect movement?
• Does your brain change with rhizarthrosis?
• Can imagining movements help?

How does thumb arthritis affect movement?

Thumb arthritis happens when the TMC joint—a tiny but important joint in your thumb—becomes worn out. This joint is what lets your thumb rotate and oppose your other fingers. When arthritis sets in, muscles in your hand and thumb can weaken, and pain can make daily tasks feel difficult.

The study found that people with rhizarthrosis move their thumbs more slowly compared to those without it. In tests where participants had to touch their thumbs to their fingers, the arthritis group struggled with both the real action and just imagining doing it.

Does your brain change with rhizarthrosis?

You may be wondering why scientists looked at the brain for thumb arthritis. Here is where it gets interesting. Your brain coordinates your movements, so if your hand doesn’t move as it should, your brain’s activity may shift.

During the study, scientists used a special machine called an fMRI to see which parts of the brain “light up” when people moved or imagined moving their thumb. For those with rhizarthrosis, the brain areas responsible for hand movements were less active during actual movements. This was especially true for the hand that hurt the most.

Interestingly, when participants only imagined moving their thumbs, their brain activity was closer to normal. No significant changes were seen compared to the healthy group. Isn’t that fascinating?

Can imagining movements help?

Let us look closer. Even though people with rhizarthrosis had trouble moving their thumbs quickly, they were still able to imagine doing it. Their brains responded well to imagining the movements.

• This suggests motor imagery—the act of mentally rehearsing movements—could be helpful.
• Motor imagery might boost recovery after surgical treatments for rhizarthrosis.
• Unlike hand immobilization or amputation, rhizarthrosis leaves this mental ability intact.

So, if you’ve been diagnosed with rhizarthrosis or have persistent thumb pain, imagining movements could eventually become part of your therapy plan. It’s something worth talking about with your healthcare provider.

FAQ

Conclusion

If thumb arthritis makes every movement more painful, it’s natural to worry about recovery. Thankfully, research shows your brain may still retain the ability to imagine those movements. This opens the door for therapies that could help you recover after surgery or ease your discomfort over time.

This site simplifies medical science about thumb pain and rhizarthrosis using trusted research. Feel free to explore our other posts for answers to your questions.

Disclaimer

This article is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for advice specific to your condition and treatment options.

Research citation

Gandola, M.; Bruno, M.; Zapparoli, L.; Saetta, G.; Rolandi, E.; De Santis, A.; Banfi, G.; Zerbi, A.; Sansone, V.; Paulesu, E. (2017). Functional brain effects of hand disuse in patients with trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis: executed and imagined movements. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28762056