Avoiding finger exercises making OA worse

stepons

Hello, I have distal joint OA in my thumbs and little fingers, with a heberden's node on the little finger of my left (non-dominant) hand. I've had a course of physio and so know the basic set of finger exercises, but I have specific questions that I can't find answer to online.

1. Strength exercises I"ve been given and seen online are static, eg squeezing a tennis ball. Is this to avoid the joint surfaces moving against each other under load? Is it then a bad idea to use squeezy balls or rings designed to increase strength?

2. Is the inflammatory process in part responsible for the worsening of OA, or is it just a sympton?
This page seems to suggest that it is a result of bone spur formation: https://ptmasterguide.com/2024/11/06/pathology-of-heberdens-nodes/

What I'm wondering is if I should avoid finger exercises while I have some inflammation and try to reduce it first with NSAIDs.

Thanks!

Trish9556

Hi @stepons

In my opinon and experience you need to use your joints when you have OA otherwise movement becomes increasingly painful. I have had a trapeziectomy in my left hand and suffer with a diffferent joint in the same area now causing pain and also in my wrist.

The easy option is not to do anything.

The best option is to use them, to exercise them and to keep them moving.

Squeeze balls are good, it's gentle exercises that maintains and builds strength. I would suggest using therapy putty that comes in different strengths as well. If you have the squeeze balls that are egg shaped, the putty comes in the same colour range. Both you can do anytime of the day, even just while sat watching tv. With therapy putty, use it as a child does with playdoh - squeeze, pull, push, dig your fingers into it, pull it apart, it really is very good.

Just using a keyboard exercises those fingers.

Pick up small items - pins, buttons, etc off of a table using a pinch movement.

There are so many hand exercises, if you search on my name you will find some I was given when I had my trapeziectomy. They are easy to do, may be the same you have already got.

Heat and cold help, fingerless gloves are excellent and I put a 'hot hands' (other brands are available but I find these best) in my fingerless gloves and they last about 12 hours.

Don't bother with expensive creams, you are constantly washing your hands so you might just as well throw some money in the bin if you're going to use creams!

Somebody might give you different advice but this works for me and I also have hebderden's nodes.

Hand exercises are all for maintaining movement and strength so keep doing them.

Tag or message me if you have any questions

Trish xx