Hands gently forming tissue paper balls in soft light, symbolizing hand osteoarthritis management.

Hand Osteoarthritis Relief: Can This Simple Activity Boost Your Dexterity?

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research suggests a fine motor skill program using tissue paper can improve hand function for those with osteoarthritis. Is this a practical solution for you?"

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) can significantly impact daily life, making simple tasks challenging and affecting overall independence. Finding effective strategies to manage the symptoms of hand OA is crucial for maintaining quality of life.

A recent study published in the 'Journal of Hand Therapy' investigated whether adding a fine motor rehabilitation program to conventional exercise and adaptive equipment programs could improve outcomes for individuals with hand OA. The research focused on a specific activity: forming and gluing tissue paper balls.

This article breaks down the study's findings, exploring the potential benefits of this fine motor activity, its practical applications, and limitations, to help you determine if it's a worthwhile addition to your hand OA management plan.

Tissue Paper Therapy: Does it Really Work?

Hands gently forming tissue paper balls in soft light, symbolizing hand osteoarthritis management.

The study, a randomized clinical trial, examined the effects of having participants create and glue tissue paper balls for 45 minutes, three times a week, over an eight-week period. The researchers then measured a variety of outcomes, including dexterity, range of motion (ROM), and overall hand function.

The results indicated that the fine motor skill group experienced improvements in dexterity and active and passive ROM in the dominant index finger and thumb, compared to the control group. Specifically, gains were observed in flexion of the index proximal interphalangeal joint and flexion and extension of the metacarpophalangeal joint.

Dexterity improvements were noted with the fine motor activity.
Active and passive range of motion in the dominant index finger and thumb improved.
The control group, without the fine motor program, experienced a loss of ROM over time.

These findings suggest that incorporating a specific fine motor rehabilitation program can lead to greater gains in ROM and dexterity for individuals with hand OA, especially when combined with traditional exercise and adaptive equipment programs. Importantly, the control group's loss of ROM underscores the potential benefit of such interventions.

Is This Study Ready for Your Hands? Considerations for Practical Application

While the study offers promising insights, it's essential to consider its limitations before incorporating the tissue paper activity into your hand OA management routine. The study did not specifically address pain levels, a crucial factor for individuals with OA. Also, the intervention focused solely on the dominant index and thumb, and the participants were primarily older adults. If the target audience are adults below 40 years of age then this is a moderate study.

Remember that the effectiveness of any intervention depends on individual circumstances and preferences. If clients prefer rote exercise methods, convincing them about the activity's benefits can be a challenge. Ensuring the activity remains pain-free is also crucial to avoid excessive joint cartilage loading.

Overall, the study provides another potential tool to add to an OA management arsenal. Talk to your healthcare provider to help customize activity to include daily needs, and the fine motor intervention may become an occupation, based on individual goals. Future research should explore a lot of activites and occupations, if a fine motor program is added. It's a process of creativity and collaboration with your therapist.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.jht.2017.05.002, Alternate LINK

Title: Clinical Relevance Commentary In Response To: Effectiveness Of A Fine Motor Skills Rehabilitation Program On Upper Limb Disability, Manual Dexterity, Pinch Strength, Range Of Finger Motion, Performance In Activities Of Daily Living, Functional Independence, And General Self-Efficacy In Hand Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Subject: Rehabilitation

Journal: Journal of Hand Therapy

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Jeanine Beasley

Published: 2017-07-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Hand Osteoarthritis, and why is it important?

Hand Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that can make everyday tasks difficult by affecting the joints in your hand. It's important because it can significantly impact your independence and overall quality of life. Effective strategies for managing the symptoms of hand OA are therefore crucial. This study specifically looked at whether a fine motor skill program could help improve hand function for those with Hand OA.

What were the main findings of the study on the tissue paper activity?

The study found that creating and gluing tissue paper balls as a fine motor skill activity, for 45 minutes, three times a week over an eight-week period, led to improvements in dexterity and range of motion (ROM) in the dominant index finger and thumb. Participants saw gains in flexion of the index proximal interphalangeal joint and flexion and extension of the metacarpophalangeal joint. The control group, who did not participate in the fine motor program, experienced a loss of ROM over time. These results suggest that the fine motor rehabilitation program, combined with conventional exercise and adaptive equipment programs, can lead to greater gains in ROM and dexterity for individuals with Hand OA.

What is the specific fine motor activity that was used in the study?

The study focused on a fine motor skill program involving creating and gluing tissue paper balls. This activity was chosen to target fine motor skills, which are often impaired in individuals with Hand Osteoarthritis. The specific benefits observed included improved dexterity and range of motion, particularly in the index finger and thumb. This activity is a key component of the intervention because it directly addresses the limitations caused by Hand Osteoarthritis and aims to improve hand function.

What are some important considerations before incorporating the tissue paper activity into a hand Osteoarthritis management plan?

While the study is promising, it's important to consider its limitations. The study did not specifically address pain levels, which is a crucial factor for individuals with Hand Osteoarthritis. The intervention was also limited to the dominant index finger and thumb, and the participants were primarily older adults. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge these limitations before incorporating this activity into a hand Osteoarthritis management routine.

How can this study be used in practice to address hand Osteoarthritis?

The practical application involves incorporating the tissue paper activity into a comprehensive hand Osteoarthritis management plan, which may include conventional exercise, adaptive equipment programs, and other treatments. However, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program. Consider your individual needs and circumstances, including pain levels, and the specific joints affected by Hand Osteoarthritis. Remember that the tissue paper activity was only tested on the dominant index finger and thumb and primarily on older adults, and therefore the results may vary depending on individual factors.