Trigger finger

Trigger finger or stenosing tenosynovitis is a pathology that affects the flexor tendons of the hand. The affected finger may be painful and decreased in mobility. The pathology owes its name to the fact that the finger is often trapped in a bent position, as if it were pulling a trigger, and, at any moment, suddenly, it frees itself and returns to the normal position.

The cause of this condition is still not entirely clear and may result from multiple factors: local inflammation, advanced age, female gender, diabetes, arthritis, hand trauma and repetitive manual activities.

Trigger finger symptoms go through pain or tenderness in the affected finger, presence of a nodule or thickening in the corresponding tendon, difficulty in flexing the finger and a sound / popping in the range of motion of the finger.

Treatment for trigger finger varies depending on the severity of the symptoms. In mild situations, treatment may involve changes in daily life activities and adaptations, cryotherapy, medication, use of splints or orthoses and stretching exercises. If conservative treatment does not resolve the symptoms, local infiltration may be considered and, if appropriate, surgical treatment.

Physiotherapy is one of the options for treating this condition, especially at an early stage. In this sense, the most common approaches are:

Range of motion exercises: exercises to improve range of motion, namely stretching, flexion and extension exercises.

Manual Therapy: joint mobilizations and myofascial release to improve finger movement and reduce stiffness.

Other treatments: such as heat or ice therapy, electrical stimulation and ultrasound.

If you are experiencing trigger finger symptoms, it is advisable to make an appointment with a Medical Specialist, such as an Orthopedist Specialist in Traumatic and Degenerative Pathology of the Wrist and Hand, to obtain a correct diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.