Hand OA update - AHTA conference learnings

Following on from our Hand Therapist Jo Marsh's attendance at the recent Australian Hand Therapy Conference (August 2024); we have been contemplating how our new learnings might impact upon our management of hand osteoarthritis with our clients. Our team has come together and are considering the following and discussing how these concepts might alter the way we help our clients deal with the symptoms of their hand and upper limb OA.

• We understand that there are currently no disease modifying drugs for  osteoarthritis. Several drugs, which are designed to help other conditions (such as Rheumatoid or inflammatory Arthritis's) may have a beneficial impact, however none are designed specifically for osteoarthritis. There is currently no evidence to support complimentary medications for OA.
  
• We understand that possibly a subterranean diet (low inflammatory) may help to manage symptoms of OA.
  
• We also understand that if a person does not have symptoms of OA before the age of 55 years, they are unlikely to develop osteoarthritis at all.
  
• Pain in hand OA is now thought to have a central sensitisation component. This is also a new concept to our therapists, although it makes total sense. Why do we see two clients with the same looking scans, however two totally different pain experiences? This concept will inform the way we discuss with and guide our client in managing symptoms.
  
• An option for the treatment of hand osteoarthritis, which we at our clinic have not implemented in the past, is resistance training for hand osteoarthritis. Trials are underway to assess the impact. Early feasibility trials seem to support resistance training in this group. Following careful consideration- this useful new knowledge is challenging and changing the way we prescribe exercises, and we are changing our practice.
  

As always, attending our national AHTA (Australian Hand Therapy Association) conference provides our staff with the latest research and innervation in hand therapy. We are excited to share with our community the learnings and look forward to helping our clients as best we possibly can!