SynthesisClinical rheumatology2014
A systematic review into the effectiveness of hand exercise therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Synthesis in Clinical rheumatology, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 42 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy of pharmacological interventions and therapeutic exercises for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Pooled it
- Exercise for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018Pooled it
- An Exercise and Educational and Self-management Program Delivered With a Smartphone App (CareHand) in Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hands: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Trial
- Trial
- Effect of traditional Chinese Yijinjing exercise on hand dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Article
- Overview of Cochrane Systematic Reviews of rehabilitation interventions for persons with rheumatoid arthritis: a mapping synthesis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine · 2023Article
- Understanding prescribed dose in hand strengthening exercise for rheumatoid arthritis: A secondary analysis of the SARAH trial.Musculoskeletal care · 2022Article
- Review
- Effect of task-oriented training on pain, functionality, and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis.Turkish journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation · 2022Article
- Joint Protection Programmes for People with Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hand: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2021Article
- Article
- Article
- A Web-Based Training Resource for Therapists to Deliver an Evidence-Based Exercise Program for Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hand (iSARAH): Design, Development, and Usability Testing.Journal of medical Internet research · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Hand exercises are often part of the treatment of hand rheumatoid arthritis; however, it is still unclear whether and what type of exercises is effective in the treatment of this condition. Therefore, a systematic review into the effectiveness of hand exercises in the treatment of hand rheumatoid arthritis has been performed. Studies were identified in the literature databases by predefined search criteria. The eight included studies are peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2014. Hand exercises differed between studies, but always included resistance and/or active range of motion exercises. Grip strength in various grip types (power grip, key pinch, precision pinch and tripod pinch) was found to improve by hand exercise therapy without having adverse effects on pain or disease activity. Adaptations in the range of motion in response to hand exercise therapy were less pronounced. There appears to be some transfer from the improvements on the body functioning level to the level of daily functioning, with the largest improvements found on grip ability. With regard to the intervention content, there was some evidence in favour of a longer therapy duration and a higher therapy intensity. No conclusions could be drawn on the effectiveness of the different types of exercises. Collectively, the studies indicate that hand exercises may have positive effects on strength and some aspects of daily functioning without aggravating disease activity or pain, although caution should be taken for subjects in the exacerbation period.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.