Thumb Arthritis

A Solution for Thumb Arthritis

There is a tiny bone in the carpal (wrist) area known as the trapezium.  The trapezium is directly above the first metacarpal (the long bone for the thumb), where the thumb connects to the wrist.  This joint is known as a “saddle joint” because it has a unique shape similar to a horse’s saddle.  The saddle shape provides this joint a much greater range of motion compared to the other thumb and finger joints.  It is at this joint where thumb arthritis occurs.

 

This thumb joint is the most common joint in the entire body to become arthritic in the greatest number of people.

 

Because there is such broad motion at this “saddle joint”, it gets the heaviest workout.  We use our thumbs to grip and hold most objects, and the thumb is always opposing the four fingers.

 

The fingers oppose the thumb four against one.

 

After a period of time the thumb may lose its healthy alignment where it connects to the carpal region.  This misalignment will irritate the joint and cause the cartilage surfaces to become worn.  This wearing of the cartilage is referred to as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis.

 

It is a common misconception that arthritis cannot be treated through chiropractic.  Practically every patient we treat has some form of arthritis.  If you break the word down to its root meaning, arthritis means “joint inflammation”.  When two bones become misaligned relative to each other, the joint at which they connect becomes irritated and inflamed.

 

Adjusting the small wrist and hand bones will restore healthy alignment and function to the irritated joints.  In addition to pain relief patients often experience increased strength, range of motion and greater ability to grip objects for longer periods of time without pain and fatigue.

 

Arthritic pain and dysfunction can be helped with chiropractic care.  If you or someone you know is dealing with arthritic pain, we recommend a chiropractic evaluation to determine if there is a solution that can provide relief and restore healthy function to their hand.

 

 ***Disclaimer: This content is solely for informational purposes and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. It is recommended that you seek professional advice by a licensed health care professional.

Scott Chiropractic and Wellness
Matthew Scott, DC 

5080 Virginia Pkwy Ste 550

McKinney, TX 75071
972-540-5445

www.scott-chiropractic.com