(08) 7008 7566
(08) 7118 5399
physio@upplus.com.au
177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton SA 5023Trigger Finger
Trigger finger happens when a flexor tendon thickens, or the tunnel it runs through narrows, so the tendon catches as the finger straightens. It produces a distinctive click or snap, and in more advanced cases the finger locks bent and has to be straightened with the other hand. It is more common in people with diabetes, and often affects more than one finger over time.
What causes it
- Repetitive or forceful gripping
- Diabetes, which substantially increases the likelihood
- Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions
- More common in women and from the fifties onwards
- Often no clear cause at all
What you might notice
- Clicking or catching as the finger straightens
- The finger locking in a bent position, worst first thing in the morning
- A tender lump in the palm at the base of the finger
- Stiffness that eases as the hand is used through the day
- Pain in the palm rather than in the finger itself
How we treat it
- A splint holding the finger straight, particularly overnight
- Tendon gliding exercises to maintain smooth movement
- Soft tissue work through the palm and forearm
- Activity and grip modification to reduce the provocation
- Managing contributing conditions with your GP
- Referral for injection or release where locking persists
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment. If your pain followed a significant injury, is getting worse, or comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss, please see your GP.
Easier to treat before it locks regularly
A finger that clicks responds well to splinting and gliding work. One that locks every morning has usually moved past that. Worth seeing early.
Or call us on (08) 7008 7566 — we see patients across Seaton, Modbury and Stepney.