What is Trigger Finger?
Trigger finger (also known as ‘trigger thumb’, ‘trigger digit’ or Stenosing tenosynovitis) is a common finger problem. It can happen in one or more fingers
Trigger finger is characterized by locking of the finger or thumb in a bent position. The finger straightens with a painful snap, or may remain in a bent position – ‘locked’ and difficulty straighten out voluntarily.
What causes Trigger Finger?
The cause of trigger finger is unclear.
– Women more common than men. ages 40-60
– Previous injury on their finger or thumb.
– Activities that strain or overuse the thumb or finger, such as grasping or prolonged use of scissors or screwdriver
– Swelling from inflammation or scarring around the tendons
– Other medical conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and gout increase the risk of developing trigger finger.
Signs and symptoms of Trigger Finger
– Pain when bending and straightening finger/ thumb
– Popping, locking, or catching sensation in finger/ thumb
– Swelling or lump in the palm
– Stiffness in finger/ thumb movement especially in morning
Effective treatments that can cure trigger finger pain
The treatment of wrist/finger pain will entirely depends on the cause of problem. Chronic severe cases may require steroid injections. However, few may reoccur trigger finger again.
Treatment for wrist/finger pain may consists of:
– Physiotherapy: Your physiotherapist will understand about your wrist/finger pain and perform physical examinations. Your pain condition will be diagnose and explain before implementing solutions to your wrist/finger
– Manual therapy: Active and Passive Mobilisation or manipulation of wrist/finger joints (distal radiocarpal joint, metacarpophalangeal joint MCP, proximal interphalangeal joint PIP, distal interphalangeal joint DIP )
– Massage Therapy: Hands on techniques such as soft tissue release, deep friction massage, myofascial release, trigger points release on elbow muscles (triceps brachii, anconeus, brachialis, biceps brachii, brachioradialis)
– Pain Relief Therapy: Using pain relief treatment modalities such as Ultrasound , electrical stimulation, TENS, laser, heat therapy to heal and repair injured, inflammed, torn tissues
– Shockwave Therapy: Advanced high energy pulses effective for chronic, persistent wrist muscle tightness, trigger points to stimulate healing. Proven treatment for tendonitis, calcification/ bone spurs
– Exercise Therapy: Guided 1-1 specific joint movement therapy, muscle stretching, progressive strengthening wrist, conditioning back to sports, functional training
– Education: Advice to improve posture, lifestyle modifications
Our unique treatment approach for Trigger Finger pain
At heal360 Physioclinic, our physiotherapist and rehabilitation therapist experts has developed a proprietary signature program for the Trigger finger pain –PainRelief360™ Program
Our therapist will perform a thorough assessment and determine the potential cause of the wrist/finger problem, and will develop a management and best treatment program for your finger pain: relief pain, regain your finger movement and give you a renewed, stronger hands!
