Position Sense, Force Control and Pain Intensity in Basal Thumb Osteoarthritis

Interaction Between Position Sense, Force Control and Pain Intensity in Basal Thumb Osteoarthritis. A Cross-sectional Study.

In practice, a single test is used to quantify thumb proprioception. Previous studies have found a decrease in joint position sense (JPS) and force sense (FS) in patients diagnosis of thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis, but no correlation have been stabilize between JPS, FS and pain intensity perceived by the patient during activity daily life (ADL).

The goal of the study is compared joint position error (JPE) with joint force sense error (JFSE) in subjects with carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis and investigated a possible correlation between thumb pain intensity and thumb proprioception in patients with CMC joint OA.

Forty-five subjects over 18 with thumb CMC joint OA in the dominant hand grade 1-3 according o the Eaton Classification Stage will be evaluated for thumb active joint position sense (JPS) test and Force sense test to measure proprioception function. For measurement of JPS, the subjects will blindfolded and repositioned their thumb to a target position, which will be determined by the examiner previously. For force sense, participants will should reproduce pinch force measure with dynamometer. The severity of pain with activity will be measured according to the visual analog scale (VAS).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Over 18 years; Diagnosis of grade I, II or II thumb CMC joint OA in their dominant hand according to the Eaton Classification Stage; A minimum pain rating of 4/10 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during activities of daily living (ADLs) at the time of the initial evaluation; Ability to read and understand the patient information sheets and exercises

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurological disorder affecting the upper limb; Treatment for hand or thumb pain in the same limb in the last 6 months (including injections to the wrist, fingers, or thumb); Fracture or significant hand injury; Previous surgery to the wrist or hand; Hand/finger tenosynovitis; Dupuytren disease; Cognitive impairment that inhibited an understanding of the informed consent and exercise program; Fixed thumb adduction contracture or blindness.