HealthInfo Canterbury
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's 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.
SourcesReview key: HIOST-35589
