Thumb Muscle Activation During First Dorsal Interosseous Exercise in Thumb Base Osteoarthritis

NCT07421089 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: UMA-AOTMC-2026-001
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are differences in muscle activation of the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) and the Abductor Pollicis Longus (APL) between individuals with and without trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (TMC OA) of the thumb. The study also seeks to identify which exercises are most effective for activating these muscles, in order to inform rehabilitation strategies for patients. The FDI has been defined as a key stabilizer of the thumb TMC joint. However, the literature reports various protocols for FDI activation and limited information on APL behavior during these exercises. OA TMC of the thumb can cause pain, decreased thumb strength, impaired hand function, and difficulty performing activities of daily living (ADLs). Appropriate rehabilitation is essential to maintain muscle function, limit joint degeneration, and improve hand performance; however, the exercises that optimally activate the FDI and APL muscles are not yet established. Participants will perform a series of standardized exercises and functional tasks designed to activate the FDI and APL muscles. Exercises include FDI strengthening with elastic bands in different hand positions (palmar and ulnar support), as well as exercises with the thumb in greater abduction. Functional tasks simulating everyday activities (e.g., turning a key, picking up a coin, writing, squeezing a tube of toothpaste, and holding a glass of water) will also be performed. Muscle activity will be recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG) during all tasks. Adults aged 40 years and older, both men and women, with TMC osteoarthritis and healthy controls without osteoarthritis will be invited to participate. Researchers will measure the activation patterns of the FDI and APL muscles during the exercises and functional tasks. The study aims to identify exercises that optimally activate these muscles, providing evidence to guide the rehabilitation of patients with thumb base osteoarthritis.

Conditions

Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis

Keywords

muscle activation; trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis; first dorsal interosseous; abductor pollicis longus; surface electromyography

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Surface electromyographic amplitude of the First Dorsal Interosseous muscle.

  Mean surface electromyographic amplitude of the First Dorsal Interosseous muscle recorded during each of the 12 standardized exercises and functional tasks.

  During performance of the 12 standardized exercises and functional tasks

• Surface electromyographic amplitude of the Abductor Pollicis Longus muscle

  Mean surface electromyographic amplitude of the Abductor Pollicis Longus muscle recorded during each of the 12 standardized exercises and functional tasks.

  During performance of the 12 standardized exercises and functional tasks

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will include adults aged 40 years and older, both men and women, divided into two groups. The first group will consist of individuals with a clinical diagnosis of thumb trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, and the second group will consist of healthy controls without musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the hand.

You may qualify if:

• \- Clinical diagnosis of thumb TMC osteoarthritis.
• \- Participants with no history of musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the dominant hand were included.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of numbness, tingling, or other sensory disturbances
• Cardiac pacemaker implantation
• Upper limb entrapment neuropathy or cervical radiculopathy
• History of neuromuscular disease, polyneuropathy, or plexopathy
• Systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or chronic liver or kidney disease
• History of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, active anticoagulation therapy, chemotherapy, or exposure to neurotoxins
• Recent upper limb soft tissue or bone injury (trauma, fracture, or surgery of the arm or neck).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Malaga: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad de Málaga

Málaga, Spain

Location

Related Publications (11)

• McGee C, O'Brien V, Van Nortwick S, Adams J, Van Heest A. First dorsal interosseous muscle contraction results in radiographic reduction of healthy thumb carpometacarpal joint. J Hand Ther. 2015 Oct-Dec;28(4):375-80; quiz 381. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2015.06.002. Epub 2015 Jun 27.

  PMID: 26209165 RESULT

• Bertozzi L, Valdes K, Vanti C, Negrini S, Pillastrini P, Villafane JH. Investigation of the effect of conservative interventions in thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis. Disabil Rehabil. 2015;37(22):2025-43. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2014.996299. Epub 2015 Jan 5.

  PMID: 25559974 RESULT

• Ahern M, Skyllas J, Wajon A, Hush J. The effectiveness of physical therapies for patients with base of thumb osteoarthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Jun;35:46-54. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2018.02.005. Epub 2018 Feb 21.

  PMID: 29510316 RESULT

• Tossini NB, Melo CS, Braz de Oliveira MP, Moreira RFC, Serrao PRMDS. Effect of physical therapy interventions in individuals with primary thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disabil Rehabil. 2024 Dec;46(26):6251-6265. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2325652. Epub 2024 Mar 7.

  PMID: 38450686 RESULT

• Deveza LA, Hunter DJ, Wajon A, Bennell KL, Vicenzino B, Hodges P, Eyles JP, Jongs R, Riordan EA, Duong V, Min Oo W, O'Connell R, Meneses SR. Efficacy of combined conservative therapies on clinical outcomes in patients with thumb base osteoarthritis: protocol for a randomised, controlled trial (COMBO). BMJ Open. 2017 Jan 12;7(1):e014498. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014498.

  PMID: 28082368 RESULT

• McVeigh KH, Kannas SN, Ivy CC, Garner HW, Barnes CS, Heckman MG, Brushaber DE, Murray PM. Dynamic stabilization home exercise program for treatment of thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: A prospective randomized control trial. J Hand Ther. 2022 Jul-Sep;35(3):435-446. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2021.06.002. Epub 2021 Jul 24.

  PMID: 34312043 RESULT

• Osteras N, Hagen KB, Grotle M, Sand-Svartrud AL, Mowinckel P, Kjeken I. Limited effects of exercises in people with hand osteoarthritis: results from a randomized controlled trial. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2014 Sep;22(9):1224-33. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2014.06.036. Epub 2014 Jul 5.

  PMID: 25008206 RESULT

• Cantero-Tellez R, Algar LA, Valdes KA, Naughton N. Clinical effects of proprioceptive thumb exercise for individuals with carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. J Hand Ther. 2022 Jul-Sep;35(3):358-366. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2022.06.009. Epub 2022 Aug 23.

  PMID: 36008246 RESULT

• Villafane JH, Valdes K. Combined thumb abduction and index finger extension strength: a comparison of older adults with and without thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2013 May;36(4):238-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.05.004. Epub 2013 May 27.

  PMID: 23719517 RESULT

• Sodha S, Ring D, Zurakowski D, Jupiter JB. Prevalence of osteoarthrosis of the trapeziometacarpal joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005 Dec;87(12):2614-2618. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.E.00104.

  PMID: 16322609 RESULT

• Haugen IK, Englund M, Aliabadi P, Niu J, Clancy M, Kvien TK, Felson DT. Prevalence, incidence and progression of hand osteoarthritis in the general population: the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2011 Sep;70(9):1581-6. doi: 10.1136/ard.2011.150078. Epub 2011 May 27.

  PMID: 21622766 RESULT

Central Study Contacts

CARMEN MENAYA FERNANDEZ, Doctoral Student

CONTACT

+34658424375; cmenayaf@uma.es

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CROSSOVER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 4 Months
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2026
• First Posted: February 19, 2026
• Study Start: January 28, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: February 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

ES (1)