Incorporation of occupational based intervention into joint protection education for individuals with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: A case series.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, the use of occupational performance in education on joint protection techniques has not been studied for individuals with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis. PURPOSE: This case series was designed to investigate if occupation-based instruction inside the clinic was useful and found satisfactory as an educational tool for individuals with thumb CMC joint arthritis. METHODS: Three participants with thumb CMC joint osteoarthritis performed washing, rinsing, and drying a dish, moving a pot and pan, maneuvering a laundry basket, and pouring from a pitcher during joint protection education in the therapy clinic with a skilled hand therapist in addition to routine treatment. Satisfaction with this intervention was assessed via a 3-question satisfaction survey. Pain with activity and function via the Thumb Disability Examination were assessed at baseline and a 4week follow up. RESULTS: Patients in this study expressed satisfaction with the inclusion of the performance of occupations in their joint protection education in the clinic. Pain with activity improved by an average of 1.7/10 on a 10-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale and function improved by an average of 10.04 on the Thumb Disability Examination. CONCLUSIONS: Although no causal relationships can be assumed in this study, hand therapists should consider adding occupation-based intervention as a component of patient education on joint protection for individuals with thumb CMC joint osteoarthritis.