High-intensity laser therapy combined with targeted hand function training for the treatment of grade 1-2 thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis

Abstract

To explore clinical effect of high-intensity laser therapy(HILT) combined with targeted hand function training on pain and lateral pinch force in grade 1-2 thumb carpometacarpal(CMC) osteoarthritis(OA). From April 2020 and April 2022, 42 female patients with thumb CMC OA grade 1 to 2, aged from 58 to 80 years old with an everage of (68.90±7.58) years old were divided into observation group of 21 patients who received HILT and targeted hand function training for 4 weeks, and 21 patients in control group who received ultrashort wave therapy combined with using of an orthosis for 4 weeks. Visual analogue scale(VAS) was applied to evaluate degree of pain, function of finger was evaluated by dynamometer to measure lateral pinch force at baseline, immediately following intervention at 4 and 12 weeks following intervention. VAS and lateral pinch force at immediately and 12 weeks after intervention betwwen two groups were better than that of before intervention(P<0.05). Compared with control group, the degree of pain in observation group improved more(immediately after intervention t=3.37, P<0.05, 12 weeks after intervention t=9.05, P<0.05), lateral pinch force higher than that of control group (immediately after intervention t=-2.55, P<0.05, 12 weeks after intervention t=9.51, P<0.05). High-intensity laser therapy combined with targeted hand function training is more effective than traditional methods in improving pain and lateral pinch force in grade 1-2 thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis.