Certain professions place particular demands on the joint at the base of the thumb.

This joint, known as the trapeziometacarpal joint, plays a central role in many gripping movements.

When it is overworked over time, it can become painful, stiff and even lose mobility: all signs of basal joint arthritis, a common form of thumb arthritis.

This page complements the general information on basal joint arthritis and is part of a preventative approach, identifying the occupational contexts in which certain joint strain can aggravate symptoms that are already present or encourage their appearance in predisposed individuals.

Repetitive or forced movements: a factor in joint overload

Basal joint arthritis is not strictly recognised as an occupational disease.

However, certain jobs can increase the mechanical stress on the thumb joint, particularly when they involve:

  • repetitive pinching or clamping movements

  • vibrating or inappropriate tools

  • prolonged postures involving the base of the thumb without sufficient recovery

By identifying these situations, you can better protect your joints, especially if risk factors have already been identified (age, gender, genetic predisposition, etc.).

Manual jobs: technical actions and prolonged effort

Certain craft or technical sectors expose the hands to repetitive strain injuries:

  • Joiners, cabinet-makers, bricklayers and plumbers regularly use screwdrivers, cut or hold tools with force.

  • Hairdressers, beauticians and nail technicians frequently perform small, fine movements, often under tension.

  • Mechanics, panel beaters and electricians handle parts that require precision and prolonged pressure of the thumb.

These stresses, accumulated over several years, can accentuate joint discomfort and even trigger the pain typical of basal joint arthritis.

Advice on how to adapt your everyday movements can limit the onset of pain.

Health professions: precision, repetition and carrying loads

Care professions, which are often perceived as not being very physical, nevertheless place intense demands on the base of the thumb:

  • Nurses, carers and physiotherapists carry out precise movements (injections, mobilisations, manoeuvring), sometimes with great force.

  • Dental surgeons and orthoptists work in static postures, leaning on their hands.

These actions strongly mobilise the trapeziometacarpal joint, without always allowing sufficient rest between two movements.

If any discomfort appears, it is important to seek medical advice early to avoid the development of a more disabling form, as explained in the section on the first symptoms of basal joint arthritis.

Industry, textiles, food processing: intense repetition of movements

In the industrial environment, repetition is at the heart of the work:

  • Line operators, packers and seamstresses sometimes repeat the same movement hundreds of times with their hands.

  • In cold environments, which are common in the food industry, blood flow to the joints is restricted, which can increase pain and stiffness.

  • Prolonged use of vibrating tools or small manual instruments (scissors, pliers, needles, etc.) adds direct joint stress.

Ergonomic adjustments and regular breaks can relieve the joint before it becomes permanently damaged.

More tips on our page on ergonomics at work.

Digital and sedentary professions: a risk that is often underestimated

Working in an office or in front of a screen doesn’t necessarily spare your thumb joints. On the contrary:

  • Intensive use of the keyboard, mouse or a work smartphone leads to repetitive, sometimes unconscious, movements.

  • Secretaries, admin assistants, executives, graphic designers and IT specialists can spend several hours a day in a gripping position.

Simple joint warm-up exercises or changes in posture can help limit tension.

Anticipate to protect your joints

Identifying an occupational factor in joint stress does not mean that the job ‘causes’ basal joint arthritis. It is more likely to be an aggravating factor in people who are already exposed, or in whom the disease is beginning to take hold.

Adapting your tools, varying your movements, taking breaks or wearing a night splint can help you continue your activities while preserving your quality of life.

See our practical tips on everyday movements you can adapt and gripping aids.

Further reading