Helping Hand Program for Osteoarthritis

("Helping Hand" Trial)

Overseen By Dimitra Pouliopoulou, PT, MSc

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

Disqualifiers: Neurological disorders, dementia, cognitive conditions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines a new online program designed to help manage hand osteoarthritis. It aims to determine whether participants find the program useful and easy to follow, rather than testing its effectiveness. Participants will either try the new Helping Hand - Joint Protection Program or continue with their usual care for 12 weeks. Suitable candidates have experienced hand osteoarthritis with pain for at least three months and can use a smartphone, tablet, or computer. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to research that could enhance future care options for hand osteoarthritis.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems you can continue your usual care, which may include your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Helping Hand Joint Protection Program is safe for hand osteoarthritis?

Research has shown that the Helping Hand - Joint Protection Program for hand osteoarthritis (a type of arthritis affecting the hands) is generally safe. A thorough review found no specific safety concerns, suggesting it is well-tolerated. Participants in similar studies did not report major negative side effects, indicating the program's safety. This program mainly includes online information, activities, and support, making it low-risk. While it may not offer significant benefits, it does not pose safety issues. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Helping Hand - Joint Protection Program for osteoarthritis because it offers a fresh, comprehensive approach to managing hand osteoarthritis beyond standard care options like medications and physical therapy. Unlike typical treatments, this program is divided into six interactive modules combining educational content and community support, which helps patients learn practical strategies for daily living and managing their condition. A standout feature is the live community of practice sessions, allowing participants to share experiences and learn directly from peers and clinicians, fostering a supportive environment that standard treatments typically lack.

What evidence suggests that the Helping Hand Joint Protection Program is effective for hand osteoarthritis?

Research has shown that joint protection programs can help people with hand osteoarthritis by reducing pain and improving hand function. A review of various studies found that programs combining joint protection with other methods effectively ease pain and enhance hand function for those with this condition. However, some studies suggest the benefits might not always be very noticeable. In this trial, participants will either receive the Helping Hand - Joint Protection Program or be placed on a waitlist to initially receive standard care. It is important to note that the Helping Hand program is still under evaluation, so further research is needed to determine its effectiveness. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with hand osteoarthritis who have been in pain for at least three months. Participants must be able to use digital devices and communicate in English. It's not suitable for those planning hand surgery soon or with neurological disorders, dementia, or cognitive conditions.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with hand osteoarthritis.

Ability to use a smartphone, tablet, or computer

Ability to communicate in English

Exclusion Criteria

I have hand surgery planned within the next 3 months.

I do not have any brain disorders that affect my thinking or memory.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants gain access to an online Joint Protection Program or continue to receive usual care for 12 weeks

12 weeks

Visit the clinic or complete online assessments once every 4 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for adherence and acceptability of the Joint Protection Program

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Helping Hand - Joint Protection Program

Trial Overview

The study tests the Helping Hand program, which aims to protect joints affected by osteoarthritis. This phase doesn't measure effectiveness but focuses on feasibility and acceptability through surveys after a 12-week online program compared to usual care.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Joint Protection Program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The content will be organised into 6 modules (4 asynchronous, 2 live modules). Each module will focus on specific principles or activities. The first two modules will present general information on Hand Osteoarthritis and Joint Protection Principles, and the third module will be activity-based and will go through different tasks including Activities of Daily Living, Occupational Activities, Household Chores, Hobbies, and Various Functional Everyday Activities. The fourth module will be pre-recorded, and it will include a patient partner talking about their experiences living with hand osteoarthritis. The two live modules will happen bi-weekly interchangeably. The first module will be a community of practice, where people will get together and exchange information on tools, strategies, and resources for hand osteoarthritis. The second module will include open Q\&A sessions, where patients will get the chance to talk to a clinician and ask questions about managing hand osteoarthritis.

Group II: Waitlist Active Control 1 Intervention

The participants in this group will continue to receive Standard Care and they will be offered access to the program after the end of the 12 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

Lead Sponsor

Trials

678

Recruited

421,000+

The Arthritis Society, Canada

Collaborator

Trials

27

Recruited

9,700+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Splinting has been shown to significantly reduce pain in thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis and improve function in symptomatic hand osteoarthritis, with moderate certainty of evidence from 9 meta-analyses involving randomized controlled trials.

Resistance training and physical exercise also effectively reduce hand pain and stiffness, while intra-articular hyaluronic acid is the only pharmacological intervention that significantly improves function, highlighting the need for further research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of conservative treatments for hand osteoarthritis : An umbrella review of interventional studies. Veronese, N., Smith, L., Bolzetta, F., et al.[2022]

In a study of 42 women with thumb base osteoarthritis, adding splints, hot packs, and home exercises to a joint protection program significantly reduced pain and stiffness and improved grip force and daily activities, both immediately after treatment and at a 1-year follow-up.

The control group, which only received the joint protection program, showed some initial improvements but did not maintain these benefits at the 1-year mark, highlighting the long-term efficacy of the combined treatment approach.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a hand-joint protection programme with an addition of splinting and exercise: one year follow-up. Boustedt, C., Nordenskiöld, U., Lundgren Nilsson, A.[2021]

Citations

1.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06963164

Testing of a New Joint Protection Program ("Helping Hand")

The goal of this study is to to examine the feasibility of a full-scale trial on Helping Hand, a new Joint Protection Program for Hand ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8774950/

Joint Protection Programmes for People with Osteoarthritis ...

Conclusions: High-quality evidence from high-quality reviews found a lack of any clinically important benefit of joint protection programmes for pain, hand ...

3.

jospt.org

jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2024.12241

A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis

Data from 5 RCTs found that mixed interventions were effective in improving pain and function in people with hand OA.

4.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0894113018301649

The effectiveness of joint-protection programs on pain ...

This SR provides the most updated evidence on the effectiveness of JP programs vs. usual care/control in patients with RA and hand OA on clinical outcomes.

5.

jhandtherapy.org

jhandtherapy.org/article/S0894-1130(22)00090-4/fulltext

Reduced pain and improved daily activities for individuals ...

This study confirms that wearing a wrist orthosis has a particularly significant impact on the execution of static and repetitive wrist-straining activities.

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11749855/

Efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological ... - PubMed Central

We aimed to update the 2018 systematic literature review on the efficacy and safety of treatments for hand osteoarthritis (OA), which was based on 126 ...

7.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-osteoarthritis-8-2025-6e8be

Helping Hand Program for Osteoarthritis · Info for Participants

While high-quality reviews found no significant benefits, there were no specific safety concerns reported, suggesting it is generally safe for humans.

8.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00375947

Study of Effectiveness of Hand Exercises to Treat ...

Participants in this study will do hand exercises once per day for 16 weeks. The purpose of the study is to determine if hand exercises ...

9.

research.aota.org

research.aota.org/ajot/article/71/1/7101190020p1/6254/Evaluation-of-Hand-Forces-During-a-Joint

Evaluation of Hand Forces During a Joint-Protection Strategy ...

The left-hand supinated approach with nonskid material resulted in an 85.5% success rate, the lowest pain intensity, and the least increased ...

10.

openorthopaedicsjournal.com

openorthopaedicsjournal.com/VOLUME/12/PAGE/500/FULLTEXT/

A Scoping Review of Joint Protection Programs for People ...

The purpose of this study is to map the current research on JP principles and guide future research on JP programs for the management of hand arthritis.