Trapeziometacarpal OsteoarthritisNCT07668986
Thumb Muscle Activation During First Dorsal Interosseous Activities of Daily Living in Thumb Base Osteoarthritis
An observational study of Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis, run by University of Malaga at 1 site in Spain.
Trial summary
The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are differences in muscle activation of the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) and the Abductor Pollicis Longus (APL) between individuals with and without trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (TMC OA) of the thumb during the performance of six activities of daily living… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 5 Jun 2026to 30 Aug 2026
- How long will I take part?
- 4 Months
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: The study population will include adults aged 30 years and older, both men and women, divided into two groups. The first group will consist of individuals with a clinical diagnosis of thumb trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, and the second group will consist of healthy controls without musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the hand.
Who may be able to join
- Clinical diagnosis of thumb TMC osteoarthritis.
- Participants with no history of musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the dominant hand were included.
Who cannot join
- Presence of numbness, tingling, or other sensory disturbances
- Cardiac pacemaker implantation
- Upper limb entrapment neuropathy or cervical radiculopathy
- History of neuromuscular disease, polyneuropathy, or plexopathy
- Systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or chronic liver or kidney disease
- History of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, active anticoagulation therapy, chemotherapy, or exposure to neurotoxins
- Recent upper limb soft tissue or bone injury (trauma, fracture, or surgery of the arm or neck).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: A Between-Group Comparison of First Dorsal Interosseous and Abductor Pollicis Longus Muscle Activation During First Dorsal Interosseous Activities of Daily Living in Individuals With and Without Thumb Base Osteoarthritis
The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are differences in muscle activation of the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) and the Abductor Pollicis Longus (APL) between individuals with and without trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (TMC OA) of the thumb during the performance of six activities of daily living (ADLs).
The FDI has been defined as a key stabilizer of the TMC joint of the thumb. However, the literature reports limited information on FDI and APL activation during ADLs. TMC OA of the thumb can cause pain, decreased thumb strength, impaired hand function, and difficulty performing ADLs. Understanding muscle activation patterns during these activities is essential to comprehend how this condition affects hand function and to guide more specific and effective rehabilitation strategies.
Read more
Participants will perform six ADLs: turning a key to open, turning a key to close, picking up a coin, writing, squeezing a tube of toothpaste, and holding a glass of water. Muscle activity will be recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG) during all tasks.
Adults aged 30 years and older, both men and women, with TMC osteoarthritis and healthy controls without osteoarthritis will be invited to participate.
Researchers will measure the activation patterns of the FDI and APL muscles during the ADLs, with the aim of identifying differences between both groups and providing evidence to guide the rehabilitation of patients with thumb base osteoarthritis.
Read the detailed description
Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (OA TMC) of the thumb is a chronic and progressive degenerative disease characterized by loss of articular cartilage, subchondral sclerosis, capsuloligamentous laxity, and osteophyte formation in the first metacarpal. Patients typically present with pain and muscle weakness, which impair hand function and limit activities of daily living (ADLs), resulting in a considerable personal and social burden, including reduced quality of life and work disability. Previous studies have highlighted the clinical importance of thumb TMC joint stabilizers. Research has demonstrated that the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) functions as the main stabilizer of the TMC joint, whereas the abductor pollicis longus (APL) acts as a primary destabilizer. These findings suggest that rehabilitation programs should focus on strengthening the FDI to improve joint stability. However, despite the clinical importance of targeting these muscles, the literature reports limited information on how the FDI and APL behave during activities of daily living.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are differences in muscle activation of the FDI and APL between individuals with and without thumb OA TMC during the performance of six activities of daily living, in order to inform rehabilitation strategies. Adequate rehabilitation is essential for maintaining muscle function, slowing the progression of joint degeneration, and improving hand performance, yet it remains unclear how these muscles are engaged during functional daily tasks.
This is a cross-sectional observational comparative study with both within-subject and between-group analyses. The study includes two groups: adults aged 30 years and older, both men and women, with a clinical diagnosis of OA TMC and healthy controls without musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the hand. Exclusion criteria include sensory disturbances such as numbness or tingling, cardiac pacemaker implantation, upper limb entrapment neuropathies or cervical radiculopathy, neuromuscular diseases, systemic conditions including diabetes or hypothyroidism, history of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, anticoagulation therapy, chemotherapy, exposure to neurotoxins, or recent upper limb trauma or surgery.
Surface electromyography (sEMG) is used to record muscle activity of the FDI and APL. Skin is prepared by shaving if necessary and cleaning with alcohol to reduce impedance and ensure optimal adherence of surface electrodes. Bipolar surface electrodes with a diameter of 20 millimeters and an inter-electrode distance of 20 millimeters are placed according to SENIAM guidelines. For the FDI, electrodes are positioned over the dorsal belly of the muscle aligned with fiber direction, with one electrode in the distal ulnar region between the first and second metacarpals. For the APL, electrodes are placed approximately five centimeters distal to the wrist, medial to the radius, longitudinally aligned and transversely away from adjacent muscles. Electrode placement is verified by palpation and selective activation tasks.
Participants perform six standardized tasks simulating ADLs: turning a key toward the ulnar side, turning a key toward the radial side, picking up a coin, writing a word with a pen, squeezing a full tube of toothpaste, and holding a glass of water while performing a drinking gesture. Each task is performed in three consecutive three-second isometric repetitions with a thirty-second rest between repetitions to minimize fatigue.
It is hypothesized that individuals with thumb TMC osteoarthritis will demonstrate altered activation patterns of the FDI and APL compared with healthy controls, and that specific functional tasks will elicit greater FDI activation, supporting targeted interventions to enhance joint stability and hand function in patients with thumb base osteoarthritis.
- Conditions
- Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis
- Keywords
- muscle activation, Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, first dorsal interosseous, abductor pollicis longus, surface electromyography, activities daily living
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Surface electromyographic amplitude of the First Dorsal Interosseous muscle.
Mean surface electromyographic amplitude of the First Dorsal Interosseous muscle recorded during each of the 6 activities of daily living.
Measured: Day 1
Surface electromyographic amplitude of the Abductor Pollicis Longus muscle
Mean surface electromyographic amplitude of the Abductor Pollicis Longus muscle recorded during each of the 6 activities of daily living
Measured: Day 1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Jun 2026
- Study start5 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (8)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Trapeziometacarpal OsteoarthritisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case crossover
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 4 Months
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Malaga
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, carmen menaya fernandez, University of Malaga
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07668986
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UMA-AOTMC-2026-002
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 29 May 2026
- Last updated
- 25 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Whitford M, Kukulka CG. Task-related variations in the surface EMG of the human first dorsal interosseous muscle. Exp Brain Res. 2011 Nov;215(2):101-13. doi: 10.1007/s00221-011-2875-9. Epub 2011 Oct 1.
PubMed 21964867Calder KM, Galea V, Wessel J, MacDermid JC, MacIntyre NJ. Muscle activation during hand dexterity tasks in women with hand osteoarthritis and control subjects. J Hand Ther. 2011 Jul-Sep;24(3):207-14; quiz 215. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2010.11.003. Epub 2011 Feb 9.
PubMed 21306871Parker EA, Meyer AM, Garcia Fleury I, Buckwalter JA 5th. Menstrual hormone-induced cyclic thumb CMC instability and degeneration in women: a systematic review. Biol Sex Differ. 2022 Jun 20;13(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13293-022-00438-y.
PubMed 35725646Penn IW, Chuang TY, Chan RC, Hsu TC. EMG power spectrum analysis of first dorsal interosseous muscle in pianists. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999 Dec;31(12):1834-8. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199912000-00021.
PubMed 10613436Adams JE, O'Brien V, Magnusson E, Rosenstein B, Nuckley DJ. Radiographic Analysis of Simulated First Dorsal Interosseous and Opponens Pollicis Loading Upon Thumb CMC Joint Subluxation: A Cadaver Study. Hand (N Y). 2018 Jan;13(1):40-44. doi: 10.1177/1558944717691132. Epub 2017 Feb 16.
PubMed 28719976McGee C, O'Brien V, Van Nortwick S, Adams J, Van Heest A. First dorsal interosseous muscle contraction results in radiographic reduction of healthy thumb carpometacarpal joint. J Hand Ther. 2015 Oct-Dec;28(4):375-80; quiz 381. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2015.06.002. Epub 2015 Jun 27.
PubMed 26209165Ooishi D, Ueba H, Aso K, Izumi M, Ikeuchi M. Kinematics of Trapeziometacarpal Joint During First Dorsal Interosseous Maneuver in Osteoarthritic Patients: An Imaging Study Using Real-Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonography. J Hand Surg Am. 2025 Nov;50(11):1408.e1-1408.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2024.12.018. Epub 2025 Feb 7.
PubMed 39918527Buschbacher RM, Bayindir O, Malec J, Akyuz G. Ulnar motor study to first dorsal interosseous: Best reference electrode position and normative data. Muscle Nerve. 2015 Aug;52(2):231-3. doi: 10.1002/mus.24524. Epub 2015 Jan 16.
PubMed 25407952
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Between-Group Comparison of First Dorsal Interosseous and Abductor Pollicis Longus Muscle Activation During First Dorsal Interosseous Activities of Daily Living in Individuals With and Without Thumb Base Osteoarthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07668986
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UMA-AOTMC-2026-002
- Conditions
- Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis
- Keywords
- muscle activation, Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, first dorsal interosseous, abductor pollicis longus, surface electromyography, activities daily living
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of MalagaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are differences in muscle activation of the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) and the Abductor Pollicis Longus (APL) between individuals with and without trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (TMC OA) of the thumb during the performance of six activities of daily living (ADLs).
The FDI has been defined as a key stabilizer of the TMC joint of the thumb. However, the literature reports limited information on FDI and APL activation during ADLs. TMC OA of the thumb can cause pain, decreased thumb strength, impaired hand function, and difficulty performing ADLs. Understanding muscle activation patterns during these activities is essential to comprehend how this condition affects hand function and to guide more specific and effective rehabilitation strategies.
Participants will perform six ADLs: turning a key to open, turning a key to close, picking up a coin, writing, squeezing a tube of toothpaste, and holding a glass of water. Muscle activity will be recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG) during all tasks.
Adults aged 30 years and older, both men and women, with TMC osteoarthritis and healthy controls without osteoarthritis will be invited to participate.
Researchers will measure the activation patterns of the FDI and APL muscles during the ADLs, with the aim of identifying differences between both groups and providing evidence to guide the rehabilitation of patients with thumb base osteoarthritis.
Detailed description
Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (OA TMC) of the thumb is a chronic and progressive degenerative disease characterized by loss of articular cartilage, subchondral sclerosis, capsuloligamentous laxity, and osteophyte formation in the first metacarpal. Patients typically present with pain and muscle weakness, which impair hand function and limit activities of daily living (ADLs), resulting in a considerable personal and social burden, including reduced quality of life and work disability. Previous studies have highlighted the clinical importance of thumb TMC joint stabilizers. Research has demonstrated that the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) functions as the main stabilizer of the TMC joint, whereas the abductor pollicis longus (APL) acts as a primary destabilizer. These findings suggest that rehabilitation programs should focus on strengthening the FDI to improve joint stability. However, despite the clinical importance of targeting these muscles, the literature reports limited information on how the FDI and APL behave during activities of daily living.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are differences in muscle activation of the FDI and APL between individuals with and without thumb OA TMC during the performance of six activities of daily living, in order to inform rehabilitation strategies. Adequate rehabilitation is essential for maintaining muscle function, slowing the progression of joint degeneration, and improving hand performance, yet it remains unclear how these muscles are engaged during functional daily tasks.
This is a cross-sectional observational comparative study with both within-subject and between-group analyses. The study includes two groups: adults aged 30 years and older, both men and women, with a clinical diagnosis of OA TMC and healthy controls without musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the hand. Exclusion criteria include sensory disturbances such as numbness or tingling, cardiac pacemaker implantation, upper limb entrapment neuropathies or cervical radiculopathy, neuromuscular diseases, systemic conditions including diabetes or hypothyroidism, history of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, anticoagulation therapy, chemotherapy, exposure to neurotoxins, or recent upper limb trauma or surgery.
Surface electromyography (sEMG) is used to record muscle activity of the FDI and APL. Skin is prepared by shaving if necessary and cleaning with alcohol to reduce impedance and ensure optimal adherence of surface electrodes. Bipolar surface electrodes with a diameter of 20 millimeters and an inter-electrode distance of 20 millimeters are placed according to SENIAM guidelines. For the FDI, electrodes are positioned over the dorsal belly of the muscle aligned with fiber direction, with one electrode in the distal ulnar region between the first and second metacarpals. For the APL, electrodes are placed approximately five centimeters distal to the wrist, medial to the radius, longitudinally aligned and transversely away from adjacent muscles. Electrode placement is verified by palpation and selective activation tasks.
Participants perform six standardized tasks simulating ADLs: turning a key toward the ulnar side, turning a key toward the radial side, picking up a coin, writing a word with a pen, squeezing a full tube of toothpaste, and holding a glass of water while performing a drinking gesture. Each task is performed in three consecutive three-second isometric repetitions with a thirty-second rest between repetitions to minimize fatigue.
It is hypothesized that individuals with thumb TMC osteoarthritis will demonstrate altered activation patterns of the FDI and APL compared with healthy controls, and that specific functional tasks will elicit greater FDI activation, supporting targeted interventions to enhance joint stability and hand function in patients with thumb base osteoarthritis.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case crossover
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Target follow-up
- 4 Months
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- The study population will include adults aged 30 years and older, both men and women, divided into two groups. The first group will consist of individuals with a clinical diagnosis of thumb trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, and the second group will consist of healthy controls without musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the hand.
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Clinical diagnosis of thumb TMC osteoarthritis.
- Participants with no history of musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the dominant hand were included.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Presence of numbness, tingling, or other sensory disturbances
- Cardiac pacemaker implantation
- Upper limb entrapment neuropathy or cervical radiculopathy
- History of neuromuscular disease, polyneuropathy, or plexopathy
- Systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or chronic liver or kidney disease
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Surface electromyographic amplitude of the First Dorsal Interosseous muscle.
Time frame: Day 1
Mean surface electromyographic amplitude of the First Dorsal Interosseous muscle recorded during each of the 6 activities of daily living.
Surface electromyographic amplitude of the Abductor Pollicis Longus muscle
Time frame: Day 1
Mean surface electromyographic amplitude of the Abductor Pollicis Longus muscle recorded during each of the 6 activities of daily living
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 21964867Whitford M, Kukulka CG. Task-related variations in the surface EMG of the human first dorsal interosseous muscle. Exp Brain Res. 2011 Nov;215(2):101-13. doi: 10.1007/s00221-011-2875-9. Epub 2011 Oct 1.
- Background: PubMed 21306871Calder KM, Galea V, Wessel J, MacDermid JC, MacIntyre NJ. Muscle activation during hand dexterity tasks in women with hand osteoarthritis and control subjects. J Hand Ther. 2011 Jul-Sep;24(3):207-14; quiz 215. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2010.11.003. Epub 2011 Feb 9.
- Background: PubMed 35725646Parker EA, Meyer AM, Garcia Fleury I, Buckwalter JA 5th. Menstrual hormone-induced cyclic thumb CMC instability and degeneration in women: a systematic review. Biol Sex Differ. 2022 Jun 20;13(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13293-022-00438-y.
- Background: PubMed 10613436Penn IW, Chuang TY, Chan RC, Hsu TC. EMG power spectrum analysis of first dorsal interosseous muscle in pianists. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999 Dec;31(12):1834-8. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199912000-00021.
- Background: PubMed 28719976Adams JE, O'Brien V, Magnusson E, Rosenstein B, Nuckley DJ. Radiographic Analysis of Simulated First Dorsal Interosseous and Opponens Pollicis Loading Upon Thumb CMC Joint Subluxation: A Cadaver Study. Hand (N Y). 2018 Jan;13(1):40-44. doi: 10.1177/1558944717691132. Epub 2017 Feb 16.
- Background: PubMed 26209165McGee C, O'Brien V, Van Nortwick S, Adams J, Van Heest A. First dorsal interosseous muscle contraction results in radiographic reduction of healthy thumb carpometacarpal joint. J Hand Ther. 2015 Oct-Dec;28(4):375-80; quiz 381. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2015.06.002. Epub 2015 Jun 27.
- Background: PubMed 39918527Ooishi D, Ueba H, Aso K, Izumi M, Ikeuchi M. Kinematics of Trapeziometacarpal Joint During First Dorsal Interosseous Maneuver in Osteoarthritic Patients: An Imaging Study Using Real-Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonography. J Hand Surg Am. 2025 Nov;50(11):1408.e1-1408.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2024.12.018. Epub 2025 Feb 7.
- Results publication: PubMed 25407952Buschbacher RM, Bayindir O, Malec J, Akyuz G. Ulnar motor study to first dorsal interosseous: Best reference electrode position and normative data. Muscle Nerve. 2015 Aug;52(2):231-3. doi: 10.1002/mus.24524. Epub 2015 Jan 16.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis, run by University of Malaga at 1 site in Spain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact CARMEN MENAYA FERNANDEZ, Doctoral Student (+34658424375, cmenayaf@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Surface electromyographic amplitude of the First Dorsal Interosseous muscle. (time frame: Day 1). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07668986, which also lists 8 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Jun 2026.