Investigation of the effect of conservative interventions in thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis

16 randomized control trials comparing conservative treatments to a control for treatment of carpometacarpal osteoarthritis were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The purpose of the study was to assess various conservative treatments for this form of osteoarthritis, in terms of their effects on pain and function. Results found therapeutic exercise to benefit grip strength, manual therapy to benefit pain, therapeutic exercise with manual therapy to benefit both pain and grip strength, laser therapy to benefit stiffness, splint use to benefit pinch strength, and magnetotherapy to benefit pain, function, pinch strength, and stiffness. However, results were based on a limited number of studies per outcome and should be interpreted with caution.