The short-term efficacy of heat therapy for osteoarthritis of the hands: a systematic review and meta-analysis
In brief
Heat therapy lowers hand OA pain by 0.6 SD and strengthens grip
A meta-analysis of nine randomized trials (627 patients) found that heat therapy modestly reduced pain (standardized mean difference ≈ -0.6) and improved grip strength (SMD ≈ 0.4) in hand osteoarthritis, with multimodal approaches (paraffin or mud plus compression) showing the greatest benefit. Benefits grew with longer single sessions and more frequent weekly treatments, but other outcomes were unchanged.
- Journal
- Journal of rehabilitation medicine (Q1)
- Published
- 10 August 2026
- Study design
- Systematic review / meta-analysis of RCTs
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1a)
- Authors
- Kai Cheng, Zhongyi Zhang, Jiaju Zhou, Yi Tang, Wen Zhang, Xinyu Hu, et al.
- PMID
- 42572834
- DOI
- 10.2340/jrm.v58.45883
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Anatomy (top studies of the week, 16 August 2026): Heat therapy efficacy for hand osteoarthritis
- Picked for Rheumatology (top studies of the week, 16 August 2026): Systematic review/meta‑analysis of heat therapy RCTs for hand OA
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of heat therapy for hand osteoarthritis. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: 9 RCTs (n = 627) from 13 identified studies included in meta-analysis. METHODS: Databases were searched up to 19 December 2025. Risk of bias was assessed via RoB 2.0. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and meta-regression were calculated using Stata 17.0. RESULTS: Heat therapy significantly reduced Visual Analog Scale (SMD = -0.60, p = 0.01), Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index - Pain Score and Health Assessment Questionnaire (p < 0.05), and improved grip strength (SMD = 0.43, p = 0.01). No significant changes were observed for other outcome indicators. Subgroup analysis showed multimodal therapy (paraffin: heat + mechanical compression; mud: heat + chemical/mechanical stimulation) outperformed monotherapy (-heated gloves: pure thermal) for pain (SMD = -0.85) and grip strength (SMD = 0.55). Additionally, meta--regression analysis found that longer single -treatment duration (p = 0.03) and higher weekly t-reatment frequency (p = 0.04) were key moderators for better grip strength recovery. CONCLUSION: Heat therapy, especially multimodal approaches, effectively alleviates short-term pain and improves grip strength in hand osteoarthritis. Clinicians may ensure adequate treatment frequency and duration to optimize outcomes.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.