GOODRX HOLDINGS, INC. Key takeaways:
Trigger finger occurs when flexor tendons in the hand become inflamed and tight, making it difficult to extend your fingers. Your fingers may get stuck in a bent position.
Stretches and exercises for trigger finger relax tight tendons, allowing your fingers to move freely.
If symptoms don't improve with exercise, steroid injections -- and sometimes surgery -- can provide lasting improvement.
Trigger finger occurs when the tendons that bend your fingers become very tight from inflammation. It limits finger movement and can make your fingers get stuck in a bent position. You may also have pain, stiffness, and a locking sensation when you try to move your fingers.
It can affect any finger but is most common in the ring finger and thumb (trigger thumb). The exact cause of trigger finger isn't fully understood. But it's often linked to repeated hand use. Activities that require repetitive and forceful gripping, grasping, or pinching may bring about symptoms. Conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome may also increase your risk of developing trigger finger.
Gentle stretches and exercises that improve your range of motion can help. Learn more about exercises for trigger finger and how to practice them at home.
The best exercises for trigger finger improve flexibility. When your finger tendons are flexible, they can glide smoothly with movement. This helps reduce trigger finger symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, and finger locking or catching. Regularly moving your fingers can also help prevent them from getting stuck in a bent position.
Talk with a healthcare professional before trying exercises for trigger finger. Start by performing the following exercises 3-5 times per day. If you still don't notice any improvement, try practicing the exercises hourly.
Carpal tunnel can be a risk factor for trigger finger. Try thesewrist exercises to improve carpal tunnel symptoms.
Does carpal tunnel release surgery work? It can, and it has a high success rate. Here's what you need to know about carpal tunnel surgery.
A firm grip is important for your health. Try thesegrip-strength exercises for stronger hands and forearms.
Each finger has its own tendon held in place by small bands called pulleys. The A1 pulley holds each finger tendon in place at the knuckle where the finger meets the hand. With trigger finger, the A1 pulley becomes inflamed. This causes the finger tendon to get stuck in the pulley, making it harder for the finger tendon to glide smoothly.
Stretching the A1 pulley can help loosen the pulley to allow the finger tendon to glide more freely. This is accomplished through a static contraction of the finger tendon.
Step 1: Hold your hand out in front of you with your fingers extended and palm facing up.
Step 2: Keeping your finger straight, move your finger toward your palm so that approximately a 45-degree angle forms between your finger and hand.
Step 3: Maintaining your finger raised at a 45-degree angle, use your other hand to apply downward pressure to your finger. At the same time, contract your finger to resist this motion so that your finger is maintaining a static hold against the resistance of your other hand.
Step 4: Hold for 5 seconds, then relax.
Step 5: Repeat 20 times with the affected hand.
Tendon glides are stretches that help mobilize your tendons at different points along your fingers. This can help decrease tension and improve finger movement.
Step 1: Hold your hand out in front of you with your fingers extended and palm facing away from you.
Step 2: Curl just the tips of your fingers down into a hook position. Keep your thumb extended upward.
Step 3: Curl your fingers all the way down to make a fist. Wrap your thumb over your fingers.
Step 4: Release your thumb and extend your fingers horizontally while maintaining a bend in your knuckles. Your fingers should form a 90-degree angle with your hand.
Step 5: Bend your fingers at the middle-finger joints to touch your fingertips to your palm.
Step 6: Repeat five times with the affected hand, holding each position for 5 seconds.
Extending your fingers can stretch the tendons and make them more flexible.
Step 1: Place your hand flat on a table or counter with your palm facing down.
Step 2: Lift your fingers from the table or counter without moving your hand. Keep your palm flat.
Step 3: Hold your fingers up for 5 seconds. Then, relax your fingers, bringing them back down to the table or counter.
Step 4: Repeat 20 times with the affected hand.
Your fingers mainly bend and extend, but they can also move in and out. Spreading your fingers helps maintain good mobility in your tendons and joints.
Step 1: Place your hand flat on a table or counter with your palm facing down.
Step 2: Open your hand as you spread all of your fingers apart as far as you can. Keep your palm flat.
Step 3: Hold the finger spread for 5 seconds. Then, relax your fingers by bringing them back together.
Step 4: Repeat 20 times with the affected hand.
Fingertip bends (or PIP joint blocking) isolate movement at the tips of your fingers. This exercise can reduce stiffness, making it easier to move your fingers.
Step 1: Hold your hand out in front of you with your fingers extended and palm facing up.
Step 2: Use your other hand to grab the affected finger just below the middle-finger joint. Keep a firm hold on the affected finger to stabilize the joint where the finger connects to the hand to prevent it from moving.
Step 3: Bend the tip of your finger down toward your palm.
Step 4: Hold your fingertip bend for 5 seconds. Then, relax your fingertip by straightening it back out.
Step 5: Repeat 20 times with the affected hand.
Stretching your fingers back into extension can help improve the flexibility of the finger tendons. This exercise, combined with the A1 pulley stretch, is especially beneficial fordecreasing pain from trigger finger.
Step 1: Hold your hand out in front of you with your fingers extended up and palm facing away from you.
Step 2: Use your other hand to grab your affected finger.
Step 3: Pull your finger back toward you.
Step 4: Hold for 30 seconds, then relax.
Step 5: Repeat five times with the affected hand.
The wrist extension stretch targets the finger tendons and wrist muscles. This provides a deeper stretch for the finger tendons as they travel from the forearm, across the wrist and hand, and into the fingers.
Step 1: Extend your arm straight out in front of you with your fingers pointing up and palm facing away.
Step 2: Pull your fingers and wrist back toward you with your other hand. Keep your arm extended with your elbow straight.
Step 3: Hold for 30 seconds, then relax.
Step 4: Repeat five times with the affected hand.
Other treatments can also help manage trigger finger symptoms. These methods may ease pain and increase finger tendon flexibility.
Conservative treatments include:
A short course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to decrease pain and inflammation
Hand splints to prevent finger stiffening and locking, especially during sleep
Massage to the affected finger(s) to break up scar tissue and improve tendon movement
See a healthcare professional if your trigger finger continues to cause discomfort and limit movement after a few weeks of trying at-home treatments. Your primary care provider may recommend that you see a specialist to receive more treatment, including:
Physical or occupational therapy to improve your hand strength, range of motion, and function
Corticosteroid injections into the affected tendon and pulley to decrease inflammation
Surgery to cut the A1 pulley, which releases the finger tendon to move more freely
Trigger fingers can cause pain and stiffness, making it hard to move your fingers. Fortunately, exercises for trigger finger can help. Targeted moves stretch the finger tendons to reduce pain and stiffness and improve movement.
If exercise doesn't help, talk with a medical professional. You may need further treatment, like therapy, injections, or surgery, for lasting symptom relief.
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GoodRx Holdings Inc. published this content on 25 June 2024 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 27 June 2024 18:44:40 UTC.
