Table 1.

Overview of included studies (n = 66).

StudiesSource Population, No. Patients (% Women), Mean Age, YrsDefinitions of Hand OAStudy DesignsApplied Instruments
Allen, et al23GOGO study (familial OA), 531 (80), 68Bony enlargement, KL ≥ 2 in ≥ 1 DIPObservational, mean FU 4 yrs

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Allen, et al24GOGO study, 878 (80), 69Bony enlargement, KL ≥ 2 in ≥ 1 DIPObservational, cross-sectional

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - Self-reported pain, 0–3

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Altman, et al45Secondary care, 385 (77), 64ACR criteriaRCT (intervention > control)*, duration 8 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (VAS)

  • - VAS pain, global

Backman and Mackie18Secondary care, 26 (88), 67OA ≥ 2 joints, rheumatologist confirmedObservational, test-retest after 2 weeks

  • - OMFAQ

  • - AHFT

Barthel, et al46Secondary care, 783 (80), 64ACR criteria, KL ≥ 1, symptoms ≥ 1 yrRCT (intervention > control), duration 8 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (VAS)

  • - VAS pain, global

Bellamy, et al25Study 1: secondary care, 50 (80), 60. Study 2: secondary care, 44 (86), 60ACR criteriaStudy 1: Observational, test-retest after 1 week. Study 2: Intervention, duration 6 weeks

  • Study 1 and 2:

    • - AUSCAN (Likert, VAS)

    • - FIHOA (original, Likert, VAS)

  • Study 1 only:

    • - HAQ, HAQ pain scale

    • - Global pain/function, 0–4

    • - Modified Doyle Index

    • - Grip/pinch strength

Bijsterbosch, et al19GARP study (familial polyarticular OA), 260 (84), 65ACR criteriaObservational, cross-sectional

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - Doyle index

Bijsterbosch, et al82GARP study, 289 (83), 60ACR criteriaObservational, FU 6 yrs

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

Botha-Scheepers, et al83GARP study, 289 (83), 60ACR criteriaObservational, FU 2 yrs

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - Pain intensity score (pain on pressure, 0–60)

Brosseau, et al47Secondary care, 88 (78), 65ACR criteria, radiographic OARCT (intervention = control)# duration 6 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - VAS pain

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Dilek, et al48Secondary care, 56 (89), 59ACR criteria, bilateralRCT (intervention > control), duration 3 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (not specified)

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain rest/during ADL

  • - Grip/pinch strength

  • - No. painful/tender joints

Dreiser, et al49Secondary care, 60 (85), 59Radiographic OARCT (intervention > control), duration 2 weeks

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain

  • - Pain movement/pressure, 1–5

Dreiser, et al13Secondary care, 200 (84), 66Radiographic OAObservational, cross-sectional

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain

Dreiser, et al26Not specified, 261 (92), 61ACR criteria, radiographic OA ≥ 2 joints bilateral, symptomsRCT (effect not specified), duration 6 mos

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain

  • - Grip strength

Dziedzic, et al27Primary care, 55 (60), 67Hand problems (symptoms, nodes)Observational, test-retest after 1 mo

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - Grip/pinch strength, GAT

Dziedzic, et al50Primary care, 257 (66), 66ACR criteriaRCT (intervention > control), duration 6 mos

  • - AUSCAN (not specified)

  • - ASES pain

  • - Average pain severity, 0–10

  • - Satisfaction hand function, 0–10

  • - Severity functional problem, 0–10

  • - Grip/pinch strength, GAT

Fernandes, et al28Secondary care, 211 (95), 63ACR criteriaObservational, FU 3 mos

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - ASES pain

  • - COPM

  • - MAP-hand

  • - Modified HAQ

  • - Grip strength, GAT

Fioravanti, et al51Primary care, 60 (87), 71ACR criteria, symptomaticRCT (intervention > control), duration 2 weeks

  • - FIHOA

  • - HAQ

  • - VAS pain

Flynn, et al52Secondary care, 26 (88), range 52–82ACR criteriaRCT (intervention > control), duration 2 mos

  • - Disease severity, 1–10

  • - Global assessment, 1–6

  • - Grip strength

  • - No. painful/tender joints

Gabay, et al53Secondary care, 162 (74), 63ACR criteria, radiographic OA ≥ 2 joints ≥ 2 flares finger OARCT (intervention > control), duration 6 mos

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain

  • - Grip strength

Garfinkel, et al54Not specified, 25 (56), range 52–79ACR criteriaRCT (intervention > control), duration 10 weeks

  • - Pain rest/activity (not specified)

  • - Hand function (not specified)

  • - Grip strength

  • - Tenderness

Grifka, et al55Secondary care, 594 (83), 62ACR criteria, symptomatic ≥ 3 mosRCT (intervention > control), duration 4 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - HAQ

  • - VAS pain, global

  • - Grip strength

Haugen, et al29Secondary care, 83 (93), 60ACR criteria, KL ≥ 2, ≥ 1 swollen/tender joint, VAS pain ≥ 30RCT (intervention > control), duration 42 days

  • - AUSCAN (not specified)

  • - VAS pain, global

  • - No. tender joints

Haugen, et al30Secondary care (Oslo hand OA cohort), 209 (91), 62ACR criteriaObservational, FU 7 yrs

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - AIMS-2

  • - FIHOA

Haugen, et al84Oslo hand OA cohort, 209 (91), 62ACR criteriaObservational, FU 7 yrs

  • - AUSCAN

  • - Grip strength

  • - No. tender joints

Hirsch, et al31Women’s Health and Aging Study, 919 (100), age ≥ 65ACR criteriaObservational, cross-sectional

  • - Pain/tenderness (no./intensity, 0–3)

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Horvath, et al56Secondary care, 63 (81), 63ACR criteria, radiographic OA, pain ≥ 3 mosRCT (intervention > control), duration 3 weeks

  • - HAQ

  • - VAS pain (rest/exertion), global

  • - Grip/pinch strength

  • - No. tender joints

Kanat, et al57Not specified, 50 (100), 63ACR criteriaRCT (intervention > control), duration 10 days

  • - AUSCAN (not specified)

  • - Cochin scale

  • - Pain rest/motion, 0–10

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Keen, et al58Secondary care, 36 (86), 58ACR criteria or radiographic OAIntervention, FU 4 weeks (after injection)

  • - AUSCAN (VAS)

  • - VAS pain (most painful/all), global

Kjeken, et al59Secondary care, 70 (97), 61ACR criteriaRCT (intervention = control), duration 3 mos

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - COPM, 0–10

  • - Modified HAQ

  • - VAS pain, global

Kovacs, et al60Secondary care, 45 (93), 59ACR criteria, KL ≥ 2 in ≥ 2 joints, VAS pain ≥ 30RCT (intervention > control), duration 3 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - HAQ

  • - VAS pain

  • - Grip strength

Kvien, et al61Secondary care, 83 (93), 60ACR criteria, KL ≥ 2, ≥ 1 swollen/tender joint, VAS pain ≥ 30RCT (intervention > control), duration 42 days

  • - AUSCAN (not specified)

  • - VAS pain, global

  • - No. tender joints

Kwok, et al62Secondary care, 195 (87), 59Diagnosed by rheumatologistObservational, FU 3 mos

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

MacIntyre and Wessel32Community-dwelling, 99 (80), 67ACR criteria (dominant hand)Observational, cross-sectional

  • - AIMS-2

  • - Dexterity

  • - Grip strength

MacIntyre, et al33Community-dwelling, 104 (81), 68ACR criteria (dominant hand)Observational, cross-sectional

  • - PRWHE

  • - Dexterity

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Marshall, et al85Primary care, 1076 (60), 65Hand symptomsObservational, FU 3 yrs

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

Moe, et al34Secondary care (Oslo hand OA cohort), 128 (91), 69ACR criteriaObservational, test-retest after 1 week

  • - AIMS-2

  • - AUSCAN (not specified)

  • - FIHOA

  • - HAQ

  • - VAS pain

  • - Grip strength

  • - MPUT

Moratz, et al63Population/secondary care, 77 (73), 69Not specifiedIntervention, duration 12 weeks

  • - Disability, 0–3

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Myers, et al35Primary care, 55 (60), 66Hand pain/problemsObservational, test-retest after 1 mo

  • - Interview on hand problems

  • - Pain, 0–10

  • - Grip/pinch strength, GAT

  • - Pain/tenderness palpation

Myrer, et al64Volunteers, 35 (77), 64ACR criteria, FIHOA > 5RCT (intervention > control), duration 4 weeks

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain (rest/movement)

Pastinen, et al65Secondary care, 29 (79), 58Clinical/radiographic finger OARCT (intervention > control), duration 14 weeks

  • - VAS pain (during grip/pinch)

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Poiraudeau, et al36Secondary care, 89 (91), 63ACR criteriaObservational, FU 6 mos

  • - Cochin scale

  • - FIHOA

  • - Revel functional index

  • - Ritchie articular index

  • - VAS pain, handicap

Poole, et al37Population based (senior centers), 40 (60), 63Diagnosis of OA (not specified), symptomsObservational, test-retest 1 week

  • - Cochin scale

  • - FIHOA

  • - MHQ

  • - AHFT

  • - HFI, HAMIS

Reeves and Hassanein66Not specified, 27 (59), 64Radiographic OA, painRCT (intervention > control), FU 6 mos (after injection)

  • - VAS pain (rest/movement/grip)

  • - Flexion motion

Rintelen, et al38Secondary care, 71 (91), 60ACR criteriaObservational, cross-sectional

  • - Short-form SACRAH

  • - Modified SACRAH

Rogers and Wilder67Secondary care, 55 (80), 72KL ≥ 2Intervention, duration 2 yrs

  • - AIMS-2

  • - Pain, 0–10

  • - Grip strength

Rogers and Wilder68Community-based, 46 (87), 75KL ≥ 2RCT (intervention = control), duration 6 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (VAS)

  • - Dexterity

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Romero-Cerecero, et al69Not specified, 113 (95), 62ACR criteria, radiographic OA ≥ 2 joints VAS ≥ 40, FIHOA ≥ 5RCT (intervention = control), duration 4 weeks

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain

Rothacker, et al70Not specified, 49 (84), 66Physician/radiographic confirmed OA, symptomsRCT (intervention > control), FU 45 min (after cream)

  • - Pain 0–5

Rothacker, et al71Secondary care, 81 (74), 61Physician confirmed OA, symptomsRCT (intervention > control), FU 45 min (after cream)

  • - Pain 0–5

Sautner, et al39Secondary care, 60 (73), 62ACR criteriaObservational, cross-sectional

  • - SACRAH, modified SACRAH

  • - VAS global

Sautner, et al40Secondary care, 66 (77), 58ACR criteriaObservational, cross-sectional

  • - AUSCAN (VAS)

  • - SACRAH, modified SACRAH

  • - VAS global

Saviola, et al72Secondary care, 38 (95), 61Radiographic erosive OA ≥ 2 joints, VAS ≥ 40RCT (intervention 1 > intervention 2), duration 2 yrs (intervention 2 only 1 yr)

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain, global

  • - Grip strength

  • - No. tender joints

Schnitzer, et al73Not specified, 59 (68), 68Radiographic/ physical OA findingsRCT (intervention > control), duration 9 weeks

  • - HAQ

  • - VAS pain

  • - Grip strength

  • - Joint tenderness (by dolorimeter)

Seiler74Secondary care, 41 (90), median 63Radiographic OA, ≥ 3 painful/tender joints, ≥ 1 inflamed Heberden nodeRCT (intervention > control), duration 4 weeks

  • - No. painful joints

  • - Grip strength

  • - Pain index (no./intensity, 0–3)

Shin, et al75Secondary care, 86 (97), 58ACR criteriaRCT (intervention = control), duration 12 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (not specified)

  • - HAQ

  • - VAS global

  • - No. tender joints

Stamm, et al41Secondary care, 100 (87), 61Bony swelling ≥ 1 DIP/PIP, pain/bony swelling ≥ 1 CMC1Observational, cross-sectional

  • - AIMS-2

  • - AUSCAN (not specified)

  • - Cochin scale

  • - FIHOA

  • - HAQ

  • - SACRAH, modified SACRAH

  • - Grip strength

  • - JTHFT, MPUT, button test

Stamm, et al76Secondary care, 40 (88), 60ACR criteriaRCT (intervention > control), duration 3 mos

  • - HAQ

  • - VAS pain, global

  • - Grip strength

Stange-Rezende, et al77Secondary care, 45 (93), 60ACR criteriaRCT (intervention = control), duration 3 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - VAS pain (general/hands), global

  • - Grip strength

  • - MPUT

Stukstette, et al78Secondary care, 151 (83), 59ACR criteriaRCT (intervention = control), duration 3 mos

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - COPM

  • - Grip/pinch strength

Tubach, et al42Secondary care, 249 (88), 64ACR criteriaIntervention, FU 4 weeks

  • - VAS pain, global, functional disability

Verbruggen, et al79Secondary care, 60 (85), 61ACR criteriaRCT (intervention = control), duration 1 yr

  • - AUSCAN (not specified)

  • - Grip strength

  • - No. tender joints

Wenham, et al80Not specified, 70 (81), 61ACR criteriaRCT (intervention = control), duration 4 weeks

  • - AUSCAN (VAS)

  • - VAS pain (average/worst joint), global

  • - No. tender joints

Widrig, et al81Primary and secondary care, 204 (74), 64ACR criteria, radiographic OA ≥ 2 joints VAS ≥ 40, FIHOA ≥ 5RCT (intervention = control), duration 3 weeks

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain

  • - No. tender joints

Wittoek, et al43Secondary care, 72 (89), 62ACR criteriaObservational, cross-sectional

  • - AUSCAN (Likert)

  • - FIHOA

  • - VAS pain

Ziv, et al44Not specified, 32 (100), 70ACR criteriaObservational, test-retest after 1 week

  • - Grip/pinch strength

  • ↵* Intervention group performed better than control group, according to primary outcome measure.

  • ↵# Intervention group did not perform better than control group, according to primary outcome measure. OA: osteoarthritis; GOGO: Genetics of Generalized OA; KL: Kellgren-Lawrence; DIP: distal interphalangeal joint; FU: followup; AUSCAN: Australian/Canadian Hand OA Index; ACR: American College of Rheumatology; RCT: randomized controlled trial; VAS: visual analog scale; OMFAQ: Older Americans’ Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire; AHFT: Arthritis Hand Function Test; FIHOA: Functional Index for Hand OA; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; GARP: Genetics osteoArthritis and Progression; ADL: activities of daily living; GAT: grip ability test; ASES: Arthritis Self Efficacy Scale; COPM: Canadian Occupational Performance Measure; MAP-hand: Measure of Activity Performance; AIMS-2: Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale-2; PRWHE: Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation; MPUT: Moberg Pick-Up Test; MHQ: Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire; HFI: hand functional index; HAMIS: Hand Mobility in Scleroderma Test; SACRAH: Score for Assessment and Quantification of Chronic Rheumatoid Affections of the Hands; PIP: proximal interphalangeal joint; CMC1: first carpometacarpal joint; JTHFT: Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test.