Long-Term Objective: Determine if high-frequency PEMF therapy reduces pain and improves function in patients with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis (OA) and if this is secondary to physiological changes.
Study Design and Methods: This will be a randomized controlled pilot study with 54 subjects with CMC OA randomly divided in two groups. Twenty-seven subjects will receive high-frequency PEMF therapy overlying the CMC joint overnight daily for four weeks. The other 27 subjects will receive a sham PEMF therapy device applied to the same joint overnight daily for four weeks. Pain and function questionnaires, pinch and grip strength, and ultrasound examination will be obtained for all patients at enrollment, four weeks, and eight weeks.