✅ Accredited Hand Therapist
✅ 4.8-Star Rated On Google
✅ Non-Surgical Thumb OA Treatments
Have you noticed stiffness, swelling or pain at the base of your thumb with pinching? You might be dealing with thumb arthritis (or CMC osteoarthritis), which generally affects the carpometacarpal joint in your hand.
Hand osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions managed at our hand therapy clinics located on the North Shore and Northern Beaches in Sydney. We offer conservative treatment through splinting, exercises and joint protection strategies to reduce thumb pain and improve hand function. For patients undergoing surgery for thumb arthritis, Hand Therapy Experts also offers post-operative hand therapy rehabilitation.
Thumb arthritis tends to develop at the carpometacarpal joint, which is designed to let you grip, pinch and hold objects. It is a small but mobile bony section of your hand which is found at the lower part of the thumb (or the base). You may also hear it referred to as thumb osteoarthritis or CMC joint arthritis. The pain may also include the wrist STT joint, known as scaphotrapeziotrapezoid arthritis.
Over time, as you age, the cartilage which forms as a cushion for this joint gradually wears down, causing the bones to rub against each other. This degradation happens slowly and is a common part of the ageing process. This continual rubbing leads to classic symptoms of pain, stiffness, and weakness.
Base of thumb arthritis is one of the most common joints affected by osteoarthritis. It affects women more than women, and involves the dominant hand in 60-65% of cases. It may also be affected on the non-dominant hand, during activities such as cooking.
There are many causes of osteoarthritis of the thumb. Some of the more common risk factors include:
| Type | Main Cause | Key Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Osteoarthritis (OA) | Wear‑and‑tear of joint cartilage |
|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) | Autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks joint lining (synovium) and soft tissues. |
|
| Post-Traumatic Arthritis | Previous thumb or wrist injury which did not heal properly or resulted in gradual wear-and-tear of joint cartilage. |
|
| Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) | Skin condition that causes inflammation, pain and swelling in joints. |
|
Below is the Eaton classification for base of thumb arthritis:
Hand therapy is a non-surgical treatment option to improve thumb arthritis pain and hand function.
It’s often the first option explored before cortisone injections or surgical intervention. Its key benefits for managing thumb arthritis include:
When is surgery considered? If pain or function doesn’t improve after a period of non-operative management, surgical intervention may need to be considered. Hand therapists work collaboratively with surgeons and may recommend a consultation if pain persists or in patients with severe joint deformities. They also treat patients after surgery with splinting and targeted exercises.
Personalised care to ease pain and restore function
Support and stabilise the joint to reduce pain
Strengthen muscles and improve joint mobility
Practical techniques to ease daily strain
Coordinated options for flare-up relief
Coordinated care with a specialist hand surgeon
The goal with hand therapy treatment is for patients to achieve long-term improvement in thumb CMC pain, joint stability, strength and function. Below is how our programs help with thumb arthritis:
Thumb arthritis can make tasks frustrating and painful. At Hand Therapy Experts, we understand how this condition affects your daily life. Our custom splinting and exercise programmes are adjusted to your symptoms to prevent surgery. We also provide post-operative hand therapy to guide your recovery.
Working closely with hand surgeons and general practitioners, we also may recommend you to seek a surgical opinion if thumb pain doesn’t improve with conservative management or becomes more constant.
Conservative Management
We restore function without the need for surgery or injections
Custom Splinting
Made in-clinic for a comfortable, precise fit
No Referral Needed
Book directly for faster access to specialist care
Same-Day & Urgent Appointments
Don’t wait in pain — weekday & emergency slots available
4.8-Star Google Rating
Rated as one of Sydney’s top wrist pain specialists
Personalised Plans
Tailored to your lifestyle, work demands and recovery goals
Two Sydney Locations
Wollstonecraft (North Shore) & Cromer (Northern Beaches)
Feel Comfortable in Your Language
Consultations available in English, Mandarin & Shanghainese
Thumb osteoarthritis is a chronic condition, so keeping your symptoms under control for the long term is advised. Apart from receiving treatment with us through hand physiotherapy, there is more you can do to protect your hands. These steps include:
Be seen today by an upper limb specialist at our North Shore or Northern Beaches clinic. Book online now or contact us directly.
North Shore clinic – appointments available
Cromer location – appointments available
