Electrically Heated Mittens for Osteoarthritis: Do They Really Work?

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal explored whether electrically heated mittens can help improve hand pain and function in people with hand osteoarthritis. This condition, commonly affecting older adults, causes pain, stiffness, and reduced hand function, significantly impacting quality of life.

What the Study Looked At

The study included 200 patients aged 42 to 90, who were divided into two groups:

  • Intervention Group: Used electrically heated mittens for 15 minutes daily for 6 weeks.
  • Control Group: Used mittens without active heating for the same duration.

Researchers evaluated:

  • Hand function using the Australian/Canadian hand osteoarthritis index (AUSCAN).
  • Hand pain, overall hand-related issues, and grip strength.

Key Findings

  1. Hand Pain: Heated mittens slightly improved pain scores by 5.9 points compared to control mittens.
  2. Hand Function: There was a small improvement in function (3.0 points on the AUSCAN scale) with heated mittens.
  3. Grip Strength: No significant improvement was observed between the two groups.
  4. Overall Hand Issues: Minimal change (2.8 points in favor of heated mittens).

Conclusion

While electrically heated mittens provided a slight improvement in hand pain, they did not significantly improve hand function or grip strength. The benefits of pain relief might be overstated due to placebo effects or emotional enthusiasm about using the mittens. Despite this, heat therapy is a safe and simple method that some patients may find helpful for managing symptoms of hand osteoarthritis.

What Should You Do?

If you or someone you know is experiencing hand osteoarthritis, speak with your doctor about effective treatment options. Heat therapy may be one way to provide temporary relief, but other treatments might offer better long-term benefits.

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