Table 2.
Description of study interventions and outcome measures
| Study | Intervention | Control intervention | Intervention duration | Post-treatment measurements | Outcome measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rannou, et al. [31] | Use of splint at night only | Usual care based on physician's discretion | 1 year | 1 month (use of splint) Immediate | VAS (previous 48 hours) VAS during pinch CHFS Pinch strength Kapandji index |
| Basford, et al. [22] | Laser (15 seconds × 4 points) × 3 sessions/week | Sham laser (15 seconds × 4 points) × 3 sessions/week | 3 weeks | Immediate | Joint tenderness of thumb CMC, MCP, and IP and of other joints (0-5) Grasp, lateral pinch, and 3-finger chuck pinch strength Thumb CMC planar and palmar abduction, thumb MCP extension and flexion, and thumb IP extension and flexion |
| Brosseau, et al. [24] | Laser (1 second × 74 points) × 20 minutes/session × 3 sessions/week | Sham laser (1 second × 74 points) × 20 minutes/session × 3 sessions/week | 6 weeks | Immediate 6 weeks 12 weeks 24 weeks | AUSCAN VAS (data not available) Lateral pinch and 3-finger chuck pinch strength CMC flexion and opposition, DIP flexion, MCP flexion, and PIP flexion ROM |
| Stange-Rezende, et al. [35] | Room with heated tiled stove (≥3 hours × 3 sessions/week) + customary treatment (as for control) | Customary treatment (NSAIDs, analgesics, home exercises, physiotherapy) | 3 weeks | Immediate | VAS (general pain; in hands and global hand function) AUSCAN Grip strength |
| Favaro, et al. [39] | Infrared radiation (20 minutes/sessions × 10 sessions) | Sham infrared radiation (not reported) | Not reported | Not reported | Grip strength |
| Stamm, et al. [34] | Joint protection program - written instructions plus home exercise program (7 ROM exercises × 10 times daily) | Education about OA (20-minute session) plus use of non-slip matting to open jars | 3 months | Immediate | Self-reported global hand function - HAQ Grip strength |
| Lefler and Armstrong [30] | Strengthening exercise program × 3 sessions/week | No treatment | 6 weeks | Immediate | Pain (0-6) Grip, palmar, 2nd-5th digit, and lateral pinch strength Finger joint ROM |
| Rogers and Wilder [33] | Exercise program (6 ROM exercises and 3 strengthening exercises) (10 to 15 minutes daily) | Sham hand cream (cream was applied once daily using gentle technique) | 16 weeks | Immediate | AUSCAN Maximal right grip strength and other grip and pinch strength |
| Field, et al. [27] | Massage on wrist/hand (once/week) + daily home self-massage | No treatment | 4 weeks | Immediate | VAS anchored with 5 faces (VITAS) Perceived grip strength |
| Dickens and Lewith [26] | Acupuncture (6 sessions over 2 weeks) | Mock transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (6 sessions over 2 weeks) | 2 weeks | Immediate 2 weeks | VAS in general, joint tenderness Functional score Pinch strength |
ROM refers to active range of motion of carpometacarpal (CMC), metacarpophalangeal (MCP), and interphalangeal (IP) of the thumb and MCP, distal interphalangeal (DIP), and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint movements of the 2nd-5th fingers. AUSCAN, Australian/Canadian osteoarthritis hand index; CHFS, Cochin hand functional scale; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; OA, osteoarthritis; VAS, visual analogue scale.