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Thumb Arthritis Treatment, North Shore Sydney

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✅ Non-Surgical Thumb OA Treatments

Hand Therapy for Arthritis in the Thumb: Conservative and Post-Surgical Management

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.

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Ready to begin your thumb pain rehabilitation? Call 1300 33 HAND or book online in minutes – no referral is needed, and urgent appointments are available.

What Is Thumb Arthritis?

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.

Thumb and finger arthritis deformities

How Common Is It?

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.

Typical Triggers of Thumb Arthritis

There are many causes of osteoarthritis of the thumb. Some of the more common risk factors include:

  • Time and Ageing: As you get older, your cartilage naturally thins and wears down over time. People in their 40’s and 50’s will experience this more as the condition accelerates.
  • Genetics: If your family has a history of developing osteoarthritis, this can increase your chances of also developing it.
  • Gender: Studies have shown women to be much more likely to develop hand osteoarthritis than men. This can be due to hormonal changes or shallower bone articular surface of the thumb joint.
  • Repetitive use: Years of pinching and gripping can increase the wear and tear on the joint. Hobbies like knitting, sewing and gardening often trigger symptoms, particularly in winter. Manual labourers or jobs that involve repetitive gripping or pinching of the thumb are also more likely to develop thumb arthritis.
  • A previous injury: If you have had a thumb fracture in the past or a ligament injury that didn’t heal properly, this can lead to early onset of thumb arthritis. This is because these types of injuries can alter thumb joint alignment, which accelerates cartilage breakdown.

Types of Thumb Arthritis

Type Main Cause Key Characteristic
Osteoarthritis (OA) Wear‑and‑tear of joint cartilage
  • Bony lumps and morning joint stiffness that improves with movement.
  • Pain at affected joints with mild swelling or redness.
  • Symptoms often begin on one side of the hand. May later affect the other side
  • Common joints include the thumb CMC joint and the finger DIP or PIP joints
  • Arthritis in the wrist joint may also occur
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks joint lining (synovium) and soft tissues.
  • Warm swollen joints with redness
  • Prolonged morning stiffness of over an hour and body fatigue
  • Pain symmetrical in the left and right hand
  • Flare‑ups driven by body inflammation
  • Often affects both sides of the hand
  • Common joints affected include thumb and finger MCP joints, finger PIP joints and the wrist joint
  • DIP joints can also be affected.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis Previous thumb or wrist injury which did not heal properly or resulted in gradual wear-and-tear of joint cartilage.
  • Arthritis changes seen on x-ray
  • With or without abnormal bone positions
  • Point pain or swelling
  • Grinding Sounds
Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) Skin condition that causes inflammation, pain and swelling in joints.
  • Swelling and redness in fingers and hand
  • Scaly skin and changes in fingernails

The Four Stages Of Thumb Arthritis

Below is the Eaton classification for base of thumb arthritis:

1
Stage 1
Articular contours normal. Slight widening of joint space on X-ray.
2
Stage 2
Slight narrowing of joint space. Osteophytes ≤2 mm. Scaphotrapezial joint normal on X-ray.
3
Stage 3
Marked narrowing of joint space with cysts and sclerosis. Osteophytes >2 mm. Scaphotrapezial joint normal on X-ray.
4
Stage 4
Stage III changes with associated scaphotrapezial joint involvement.

The Role of Hand Therapy: How It Helps Manage Thumb Osteoarthritis

What Is Hand Arthritis Hero Image

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:

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  • Helps Avoid Surgery: Hand therapy is a conservative, therapist-led form of treatment with minimal risk. The goal of hand therapy is to improve hand function and reduce pain, and to independently self-manage symptoms. It may help you delay the need to consider hand surgery.
  • Is Backed By Clinical Evidence: Many studies have been performed over the years to support its use, notably the trial led by the University of Sydney. The research showed improved hand function with combined splinting, exercise and patient education.
  • Reduces Long-Term Dependence: Rather than making you reliant on medication, hand therapy teaches you self-management strategies to manage hand arthritis during winter flare-ups.
  • Targets The Joint, Not Your Whole Hand: A custom-moulded splint supports just the affected joint, keeping your wrist and fingers free to move.

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.

Our Thumb Arthritis Treatment Options

Targeted Hand Therapy For Osteoarthritis

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Hand Therapy

Personalised care to ease pain and restore function

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Custom Splinting

Support and stabilise the joint to reduce pain

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Rehab Exercises

Strengthen muscles and improve joint mobility

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Joint Protection

Practical techniques to ease daily strain

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Medications and Injections

Coordinated options for flare-up relief

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Surgical Referral

Coordinated care with a specialist hand surgeon

Our Process: How We Help You Manage Your Thumb Joint Pains

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:

Finger Arthritis Treatment With Chen Li
1

Initial Assessment & Diagnosis

  • Review your medical history to understand which daily activities trigger your pain
  • Physical examination of your hand and thumb, which may include testing your grip and pinch strength
  • A thumb and hand x-ray may be requested
  • A personalised treatment plan to begin your rehabilitation
2

Begin Treatment (Active Therapy Phase)

  • Hands-on therapy is used to ease pain and stiffness in the thumb joint
  • A splint may be provided to support your thumb while keeping your fingers and wrist free, with a wear schedule tailored to you
  • Targeted exercises to strengthen the muscles and stabilise the area to support the thumb
  • Education on joint protection techniques and how to use everyday tools to reduce joint strain
3

Support Your Recovery

  • Review your splint and exercises at follow-up appointments
  • Progressive exercises will be provided as your symptoms improve
  • Home strategies are shared for handling flare-ups
  • Return to work advice given, including how to manage thumb arthritis for hobbies and daily activities
  • Surgeon referral is considered if conservative treatment isn’t enough

The Hand Therapy Experts’ Difference For Thumb Arthritis Relief

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.

Accredited & Certified

AHTA & HTCC certified hand therapist with 10+ years experience

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

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Same-Day & Urgent Appointments

Don’t wait in pain — weekday & emergency slots available

One to one Appointments

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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

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Long-Term Management Advice For Thumb Arthritis

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:

Ergonomic Adjustments When Using Various Tools: By optimising your equipment, you can reduce your joint pain and fatigue during everyday activities. These adjustments also help prevent future flare-ups and allow your joints to function longer.
Activity Modification: Our team can also educate the patient on how to perform everyday activities to avoid putting undue stress on the joint and worsening the condition.
Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle: A balanced diet and regular exercise help lower stress on your joints, including those in the hands.

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Be seen today by a hand therapist for upper limb treatment at our North Shore or Northern Beaches clinic. Book online now or contact us directly.

North Shore Hand Therapy Clinic

North Shore clinic – appointments available

Northern Beaches Hand Therapy Clinic

Cromer location – appointments available

Conditions we treat