Basal Joint Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation and stiffness in the joints. One of the most common forms often affects the joint at the base of the thumb, called the basal joint . Arthritis is also very common in the joints of the hip, knees, hands, and arms. Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the US today. It is the major cause of activity limitations in older Americans. This statistic is bound to increase with the growing elderly population. Arthritis is often a chronic disease, meaning it can affect the person afflicted over a long period of time. It is a disease of the joints, characterized by inflammation of the affected areas. There are numerous types of arthritis, with the most predominant forms being osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis is the result of disease or damage to articular cartilage, the white glistening surface of our bones found in the joints. This type of cartilage is found in all major jo...

http://www.hss.edu/conditions_basal-joint-arthritis-therapy.asp Introduction Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, frequently affects the joint at the base of the thumb where it meets the wrist. Known as basal joint arthritis or basal thumb arthritis, this condition is more common in women than men and is associated with aging. Over time, the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones degenerates, and excess bone forms. Basal joint arthritis can also occur following an injury to the area. Symptoms Basal joint arthritis is a chronic condition that develops gradually. The most common symptoms are thumb pain and stiffness. Contrary to what one might expect, individuals having more pain do not necessarily have more severe arthritis. The pain of basal joint arthritis is frequently due to inflammation in the joint. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments for inflammation that can be provided by therapists and physicians. Treatment Physical and occupational therapists spe...

Basal Joint Arthritis by Aurora_Rainbow

Where the thumb and the wrist meet we find the basal joint or carpometacarpal joint. This is also referred to as the CMC joint. The thumb has a wide range of movements because of that joint. We can put our thumb opposite any of our fingers or put it in the palm of our hand. This is called opposition. The joint is held together by ligaments. These ligaments can be injured by a sprain. The ends of our joint bones are covered by cartilage. It keeps the bone separated. Cartilage is smooth and spongy. It allows one side of the joint to slide smoothly over the other side. Any damage to ligament or cartilage can change the way the joint works. If the ligament gets damaged it won't hold together the joint properly. If cartilage is damaged or worn down there will be too much friction when one side of the joint slides over the other side. If you break your thumb, especially the CMC joint, small fragments of bone might not line up quite exactly during the healing. And just like any precision ...