If you have pain at the base of your thumb, you may have heard the medical term rhizarthrosis. This is a type of arthritis that affects the joint where your thumb meets your wrist. It can make simple tasks like opening a jar or turning a key feel impossible. You are not alone. This is the most common type of arthritis in the hand.
Scientists recently compared two treatments for thumb arthritis. They looked at shock wave therapy and exercise. Both groups also wore a special brace. The results give us hope that there are good ways to manage this painful condition.
Here are three key points from this research:
- Both shock wave therapy and exercises helped reduce pain and improve hand function.
- Shock wave therapy gave patients an extra boost in improvement at six months.
- Using a brace along with treatment made a positive difference.
Key Findings at a Glance
- Seventy two patients with thumb arthritis were divided into two groups: shock wave therapy or exercise therapy.
- Both treatments reduced pain, improved hand function, and decreased disability over six months.
- Patients receiving shock wave therapy reported feeling better improvement at one, three, and six months compared to exercise alone.
- Shock wave treatment had a statistically significant effect on reducing pain scores and disability scores.
- All patients wore a thumb brace as part of their treatment plan.
In this article:
- What is rhizarthrosis and why does it hurt?
- What did this study show?
- How do shock waves help thumb arthritis?
- What results did the researchers find?
- What does this mean for you?
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
- Disclaimer
- Scientific source
What is rhizarthrosis and why does it hurt?
Rhizarthrosis is another name for arthritis of the thumb. It happens at the joint where your thumb connects to your wrist. This joint is also called the CMC joint. CMC stands for carpometacarpal. It is a fancy name for the place where two bones meet.
This condition is very common. According to this study, rhizarthrosis is the most frequent form of osteoarthritis. It causes pain, makes it hard to use your hand, and reduces what you can do with your thumb. Simple tasks become challenging.
You may be wondering why this matters. When your thumb hurts, it affects almost everything you do. Your thumb is involved in gripping, pinching, and holding. That makes treatment very important.
What did this study show?
Researchers designed a study to see if shock wave therapy could help people with thumb arthritis. They wanted to compare it to exercise therapy. Both are treatments that do not involve surgery or strong medications.
Here is where it gets interesting. Seventy two patients joined the study. Each person had rhizarthrosis. The researchers divided them into two groups randomly. One group received shock wave therapy. The other group did exercises. Everyone in both groups also wore a special brace on their thumb.
The study tracked patients over six months. Researchers checked in with them at the start, then at one month, three months, and six months. They measured three things:
- Pain levels using a scale called VAS
- How well the hand worked using a scale called FIHOA
- Overall disability using a scale called DASH
The researchers also asked patients how much better they felt. This was measured with something called the Roles and Maudsley Score.
How do shock waves help thumb arthritis?
You might be wondering what shock waves even are. Shock wave therapy uses sound waves that you cannot hear. These waves travel into your body and reach the painful joint. The treatment is called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment, or ESWT for short. Extracorporeal means outside the body.
Research shows that shock waves might help the body heal itself. They may reduce swelling and encourage repair. This is called biostimulation. Bio means life, and stimulation means waking something up or making it more active.
The shock wave treatment does not hurt like it sounds. It is done in a doctor’s office. No cuts or needles are needed.
What results did the researchers find?
Let us look closer at what happened. Both groups got better over the six months. That is good news. Pain went down. Hand function improved. Disability decreased.
According to this study, when researchers compared the start of the study to the six month point, both groups showed significant improvement in all scores. That means the changes were real and not just by chance.
But there was something extra with the shock wave group. Patients who received shock waves felt more improvement. They reported this at one month, three months, and six months. The difference was statistically better than the exercise group. Statistically better means the numbers show a clear difference that is unlikely to be an accident.
The researchers did a special type of math called regression analysis. This helps show what truly makes a difference. The analysis showed that shock wave treatment had a strong effect on reducing pain and disability. The results were statistically significant with a p value less than 0.001. That is a way scientists say they are very confident in the results.
What about the exercise group?
The exercise group also improved. Pain got better. Function improved. Disability went down. But the improvement slowed down between three and six months. At that point, the scores did not change much.
This tells us that exercises help. They are a good option. But shock waves may give an added benefit that lasts longer.
What about the brace?
Both groups wore a brace. A brace is a support that holds your thumb still. It gives the joint a rest. This seems to be an important part of treatment. The brace helped both groups improve.
What does this mean for you?
If you have thumb arthritis, this study gives you options. Both shock wave therapy and exercises can help manage your pain. They can improve how well your hand works. They can reduce disability.
According to medical evidence, wearing a brace is also helpful. The brace was used in both groups. It seems to support the healing process.
Shock wave therapy may offer an extra advantage. Patients felt more improvement. The benefits continued through six months. If exercises alone are not giving you enough relief, shock waves might be worth discussing with your doctor.
These treatments are appealing because they are not surgery. They do not involve strong medicines. They work with your body’s natural healing.
About this site
This website is dedicated to making medical science easy to understand. We focus on thumb pain and rhizarthrosis. Every article is based only on published scientific research. We read the studies so you do not have to. Then we explain them in simple language. We invite you to explore more articles on this site to learn about your condition and your treatment options.
Frequently asked questions
Is shock wave therapy painful?
The study does not report that patients experienced pain from the shock wave treatment itself. It is a noninvasive treatment. That means no cuts or needles. Many patients tolerate it well. Your doctor can give you more details about what to expect.
How long does it take to feel better?
According to this study, patients in both groups started feeling better within the first month. Improvement continued through six months. Shock wave patients reported feeling more improvement at each check in point.
Do I still need to wear a brace?
In this study, all patients wore a brace as part of their treatment. The brace helps rest the joint. This seems to be an important part of getting better. Talk to your healthcare provider about how long you should wear your brace.
Can exercises alone help my thumb arthritis?
Yes. The study showed that exercises combined with a brace helped reduce pain, improve function, and decrease disability. Exercises are a good treatment option. Shock waves may offer extra benefit, but exercises are effective on their own.
Conclusion
Thumb arthritis can make daily life frustrating. Simple tasks become hard. But this research gives us hope. Both shock wave therapy and exercises, used together with a brace, help manage pain and improve hand function.
Research shows that shock wave therapy offers an added benefit. Patients felt more improvement over six months compared to exercises alone. If you are struggling with thumb pain, talk to your doctor. Ask about these treatment options. You have choices that do not involve surgery.
Healing takes time. Be patient with yourself. Small improvements add up. You deserve relief and better function in your hand.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It does not replace the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. Always consult your doctor before starting any new treatment. Your doctor knows your specific situation and can give you personalized advice.
Scientific source
Study citation: Covelli, Ilaria; De Giorgi, Silvana; Di Lorenzo, Antonio; Pavone, Angelo; Salvato, Fabrizio; Rifino, Francesco; Moretti, Biagio; Solarino, Giuseppe; Notarnicola, Angela (2024). Extracorporeal Shock Waves Therapy (ESWT) vs Exercise in Thumb Osteoarthritis (SWEX-TO): Prospective Clinical Trial at 6 Months. Preprints.org.
https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.0350.v1
Compare every treatment option side by side before making any decisions.
Treatment Comparison
