As we age, it’s natural to experience changes in our bodies, but that doesn’t mean we have to let discomfort hold us back. One common condition many older adults face is CMC joint osteoarthritis (OA), affecting the base of the thumb (Li & White, 2013). This can make everyday activities like gripping a cup, opening a jar, or typing on a phone, more difficult and painful.
This is where Action Rehab and our team of therapist’s can help! Not only do we understand the complex nature of hand and wrist joints, including the CMC joint, but we understand the immense impact of CMCJ OA on everyday life.
CMCJ OA is a degenerative condition that causes pain, stiffness and weakness (Li & White, 2013). We guide you through conservative therapy methods that include modifying activities, personalised exercises and custom splinting, which has been shown to provide long-term relief from pain for patients with CMCJ OA (Day et al., 2004).
Additionally, we can also discuss with you the options of an intra-articular injection of corticosteroids or surgical treatment, if appropriate and we can also work alongside your hand surgeon to assist with your post-operative rehab.
Seeking help from our team of upper limb therapist’s means taking control of your health and well-being, even as you age. There’s no need to wait until the pain gets worse—take the first step today, your hands are worth it!
References
Day, C. S., Gelberman, R., Patel, A. A., Vogt, M. T., Ditsios, K., & Boyer, M. I. (2004). Basal joint osteoarthritis of the thumb: a prospective trial of steroid injection and splinting.The Journal of hand surgery,29(2), 247-251.
