Hand kinematics in osteoarthritis patients while performing functional activities

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent condition affecting joint mobility.
• Kinematic limitations in hand joints can significantly impair daily living activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of kinematic limitations on the ability of hand OA patients to perform daily activities.
• To correlate active range of motion (AROM) with functional performance in hand OA.

Main Methods:

• Compared active ranges of motion (AROM) and functional ranges of motion (FROM) in 33 hand OA patients and 32 healthy controls.
• Assessed hand dexterity and function using standardized tests (Box and Block, Nine Hole Peg, Kapandji, Sollerman Hand Function Test).

Main Results:

• Hand OA patients exhibited limited AROM in multiple joints (thumb, finger MCP/PIP) and reduced palmar arch.
• Patients demonstrated poorer performance in dexterity and opposition tasks, with Kapandji scores correlating with AROM limitations.
• Significant differences in FROM and increased task completion times were observed in patients.

Conclusions:

• AROM measurements serve as early diagnostic indicators for hand OA.
• Patients develop compensatory strategies due to AROM limitations, particularly affecting tasks requiring thumb precision or force.
• Rehabilitation should focus on enhancing thumb strength, precision, and overall task completion efficiency.