
Self-care for thumb arthritis
How you manage day-to-day activities can make a big difference to the impact thumb arthritis has on your lifestyle. Self-care measures that may be helpful include:
- using your thumb in a position where the joint surfaces are in most contact. For example, your thumb and index finger should make a circle when holding objects, not collapsing towards each other
- taking frequent breaks when doing activities that involve your thumb
- using bigger joints such as your shoulder or elbow to carry out daily activities
- using two hands instead of one
- using special equipment to ease activities such as opening jars
- modifying equipment that is skinny or difficult to hold by making it fatter and easier to grip
- wearing a splint to support your thumb
- applying cold packs or gentle heat to reduce swelling and relieve pain – a good pair of warm gloves will help in winter
- wearing arthritis gloves to help keep your hand and thumb warm and give light compression, which may help with swelling and pain.
Hand exercises
Suitable hand exercises can make a difference. A physiotherapist or hand therapist can provide information about hand exercises.
On the next page: Treating thumb arthritis
Content shared between HealthInfo Canterbury, KidsHealth and Health Navigator NZ as part of a National Health Content Hub collaborative. Page created March 2021.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public
Canterbury Community HealthPathways - First Carpometacarpal Joint (CMCJ) Osteoarthritis. Retrieved January 2021.
UpToDate – Management of hand osteoarthritis. Retrieved January 2021.
Healthify He Puna Wairoa – Basal thumb arthritis. Retrieved January 2021.
Page reference: 840670
Review key: HIOST-35589