| The purpose of this study was to compare two different splinting methods (immobilization or correction of biomechanics) in the treatment of thumb CMC joint osteoarthritis (OA) pain and functional limitation. A mixed-design study was used including quantitative and qualitative components. Seven female subjects participated in this project with various OA stages of severity. All participants were evaluated using a visual analog scale journal, pre and post range of motion measurements, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, open-ended questionnaires and a follow up interview. The quantitative results revealed an increase of upper extremity symptoms and interference with work in the control group (immobilization) compared to a decrease in the experimental group (biomechanics). The qualitative analysis considered the impact of personal factors such as preferences, roles, and feeling of self-efficacy and enriched the final results, which could not be attributed solely to the splint intervention. Recommendations for future research were discussed. |
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