In 1993, Hoenig, et. al., conducted randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the effects of various home hand exercise interventions on grip strength and explore their immediate or short-term impact on range of motion, pain, deformities, hand disease activity, and dexterity in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.

Over a 12-week period, participants engaged in home hand exercises for 10-20 minutes twice daily. The study included three exercise interventions: range of motion exercises, balanced resistive exercises, and a combination of range of motion plus balanced resistive exercises.

The exercises were generally well-tolerated, with participants experiencing only transient, mild to moderate discomfort. Range of motion exercises were linked to improved joint count in the right hand, while the combination of range of motion plus balanced resistive exercises was associated with increased dexterity in the left hand. The overall use of home hand exercises (combined exercise groups) resulted in a significant increase in left grip strength.

This study concludes that the temporary implementation of home hand exercise is associated with acceptable side effects and proves to be an effective method for enhancing grip strength in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. These findings underscore the potential benefits of incorporating home-based exercise interventions into the management of rheumatoid hand conditions.

Reference: Hoenig, H., Groff, G., Pratt, K., Goldberg, E., & Franck, W. (1993). A randomized controlled trial of home exercise on the rheumatoid hand. The Journal of rheumatology, 20(5), 785-789.