Heated mittens not found to improve physical hand function in patients with osteoarthritis

1. The use of electrically heated mittens for 6 weeks was not associated with improved physical hand function in patients with osteoarthritis compared to control mittens. 

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Therapeutic options for osteoarthritis remain limited with existing options such as NSAIDs having notable toxicities in elderly patients, necessitating the development of new effective and safe treatments. The use of heat therapy in the management of hand osteoarthritis has sometimes been recommended, but the evidence behind such recommendations has been limited. This randomized controlled trial therefore sought to investigate the effect of electrically heated mittens on outcomes such as hand function in patients with hand osteoarthritis compared with control mittens without heating elements. 200 participants (mean age, 71 years; 87% female) with hand osteoarthritis from Denmark were randomized to either the heated mittens group or the control mittens group. Patients were assessed at baseline and 2, 4 and 6 week follow-ups and asked to wear their given mittens for at least 15 minutes per day, ideally when their symptoms were at their worst. The primary outcome was the change in hand function as determined by the function subscale of the AUSCAN questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included changes in the AUSCAN pain and stiffness subscales. After 6 weeks, both groups showed improvements in the AUSCAN function subscale score, with a difference of 3.0 points (95% CI −0.4 to 6.3; P=0.09) in favour of the heated mitten group. There was a difference of 5.9 points (95% CI 2.2 to 9.5) in the AUSCAN pain subscale favouring the heated mitten group, and a difference of 6.3 points (95% CI 1.6 to 11.1) in the AUSCAN stiffness subscale group favouring the heated mitten group. Overall, this study found that the use of electrically heated mittens was not associated with significant improvement in function in patients with hand osteoarthritis, but may be associated with minor improvements in pain and stiffness.

Click to read the study in BMJ

Image: PD

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