If you have thumb pain or rhizarthrosis, you may have wondered whether weak bones play a role. You are not alone. Many people with arthritis in their hands ask this question. A study from 2015 looked at whether the severity of hand arthritis connects to bone mineral density.
This article explains what researchers found. It focuses on thumb arthritis and what bone density might mean for you. You will see that the connection is not always simple.
Here are three quick points:
- The study looked at 30 people with hand arthritis
- Researchers measured bone density and arthritis severity
- Results differed depending on which finger joints were affected
Key Findings at a Glance
- Researchers studied 30 patients with hand arthritis, including 9 with thumb arthritis (rhizarthrosis)
- Bone mineral density was measured using a special X-ray scan called dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
- For finger tip joints (Heberden’s nodes), lower bone density linked to worse arthritis
- For thumb arthritis, no connection was found between bone density and severity
- Other factors besides bone density may influence thumb arthritis progression
In This Article
What Did This Study Do?
Researchers wanted to find out if weak bones connect to worse hand arthritis. They looked at three types of hand arthritis at the same time.
The study measured bone strength in the spine. It also measured how bad the arthritis was in the hands. Then researchers looked to see if these two things connected.
You may be wondering why this matters. If weak bones make arthritis worse, then treating bone weakness might help slow down arthritis. Let us look closer at what they did.
Who Was in the Study?
According to this study, 30 people took part. These people all had pain in their finger joints. They came to the clinic asking for help with their sore hands.
Here is who was included:
- 24 women and 6 men
- Ages ranged from 49 to 85 years old
- The average age was 70 years old
The group included different types of hand arthritis:
- 18 people had Heberden’s nodes
- 8 people had Bouchard’s nodes
- 9 people had rhizarthrosis
Here is where it gets interesting. Not everyone had the same type of arthritis. Some had bumps at the fingertips. Others had arthritis in the middle of the fingers. And some, like you might, had arthritis in the thumb.
What Did Researchers Measure?
Research shows that two main things were measured. First, doctors took X-rays of the hands. They looked at how bad the arthritis appeared on the X-rays.
They used something called the Kellgren/Lawrence scale. This scale gives a grade from 0 to 4. A grade of 0 means no arthritis. A grade of 4 means very severe arthritis.
| Grade | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 0 | No arthritis |
| 1 | Doubtful or very mild |
| 2 | Mild arthritis |
| 3 | Moderate arthritis |
| 4 | Severe arthritis |
Second, bone mineral density was measured. Doctors used a special X-ray machine called dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. This machine looks at the bones in the spine. It tells doctors how dense and strong the bones are.
What Did They Find About Thumb Arthritis?
According to this study, the results were different for different joints. This is the most important part for you if you have thumb pain.
For Heberden’s Nodes
Heberden’s nodes are bumps at the very tips of the fingers. These happen when arthritis affects the last joint in each finger.
Research shows that people with worse arthritis in these finger tip joints also had lower bone density. The connection was statistically significant. That means it was not just by chance.
For Bouchard’s Nodes
Bouchard’s nodes are bumps in the middle joints of the fingers. For these joints, researchers found no connection between bone density and arthritis severity.
For Rhizarthrosis (Thumb Arthritis)
This is the part that matters most if you have thumb pain. Rhizarthrosis is arthritis at the base of the thumb.
Studies indicate that thumb arthritis showed no connection to bone mineral density. People with low bone density did not have worse thumb arthritis than people with normal bone density.
The thumb joint seemed to behave differently than the fingertip joints. The researchers found this surprising.
Why Does This Matter for You?
If you have thumb arthritis, this finding tells you something important. Weak bones may not be the main thing driving your thumb pain.
Let us look closer. Other factors may matter more for thumb arthritis. These might include:
- How much you use your thumb
- Your age
- Past injuries to the thumb
- Your genes and family history
- The shape of your thumb joint
This does not mean bone health is unimportant. Keeping your bones strong is always good for your overall health. But it may not directly change how fast your thumb arthritis gets worse.
You may be wondering what to do next. Talk with your doctor about all the things that might affect your thumb. Bone density is just one piece of the puzzle.
What About Other Types of Hand Arthritis?
If you also have bumps at your fingertips, bone density might matter more. The study found a clear link for Heberden’s nodes. Keeping bones healthy could potentially help slow that type of arthritis.
About This Site
This website simplifies medical science for people with thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. We read published scientific articles and explain them in plain language. Every article on this site comes from real medical research. We never make up facts. We invite you to explore more content to learn about your condition and feel more confident in your conversations with doctors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does low bone density cause thumb arthritis?
According to this study, no clear connection was found between low bone density and the severity of thumb arthritis. Other factors likely play a bigger role in thumb arthritis progression.
Should I get my bone density tested if I have thumb pain?
Bone density testing is important for overall bone health, especially for older adults and postmenopausal women. However, this study suggests it may not predict how severe your thumb arthritis will become. Talk with your doctor about whether testing is right for you.
What is the difference between thumb arthritis and finger arthritis?
Research shows that thumb arthritis (rhizarthrosis) affects the joint at the base of the thumb where it meets the wrist. Finger arthritis can affect joints at the fingertips (Heberden’s nodes) or middle finger joints (Bouchard’s nodes). This study found that bone density connects differently to these different types of arthritis.
What factors do affect thumb arthritis progression?
While this study found that bone density does not strongly affect thumb arthritis, the researchers note that other factors likely influence progression. These may include joint use, age, genetics, and joint structure, though this particular study did not measure those factors.
What Should You Take Away?
If you have thumb pain or rhizarthrosis, this research offers helpful perspective. Bone density may not be the driving force behind your thumb arthritis. This is different from arthritis in the fingertips, where bone density does seem to matter.
Your thumb joint is unique. It works differently than your other finger joints. It handles different forces and stresses every day.
Here are gentle next steps:
- Focus on managing your thumb symptoms with your doctor
- Do not worry too much about bone density affecting your thumb
- Keep your bones healthy for overall wellness
- Ask your doctor about treatments that target thumb arthritis directly
Remember that research continues to teach us more. This study had 30 people. Future studies with more people may reveal more connections. For now, we know that thumb arthritis is complex. Many factors work together.
You are taking a positive step by learning about your condition. Knowledge helps you have better conversations with your healthcare team. You deserve support and clear answers.
Important Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace the advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Always talk with a qualified medical professional about your specific condition and treatment options. Do not make changes to your treatment based only on what you read here.
Scientific Source
Iwase, Yoshiyuki; Shimura, Yukio; Sawa, Mamiko; Nojiri, Hidetoshi; Makino, Yuji; Tsuchiya, Masaru; Aritomi, Kentaro; Kaneko, Kazuo; Kurosawa, Hisashi (2015). Association between Radiographic Severity of Osteoarthritis of Finger Joints and Bone Mineral Density. Juntendo Medical Journal.
