What is trigger finger?

Also known as De Quervain’s disease and stenosing tenosynovitis, trigger finger is s type of tenosynovitis caused by excessive use of thumb stretching and extension.

Clinical Syndromes

• The thumb near the wrist aches without strength. The condition is more serious when getting up in the morning.
• The pain becomes more significant when the wrist engages in rotating action or the thumb repeatedly stretches and extends.
• The wrist becomes intense and swollen, which sometimes extends to the forearm or downward to the thumb.
• Over the long run, tendinitis and adhesion will occur, limiting the angle of the thumb’s activity.

Home Care and Exercises

At initial and acute tendinitis, avoid excessive use of thumb and wrist. Properly fasten and apply cold compress to alleviate inflammation and swelling. Later, apply hot compress with proper amount of exercises to enhance muscle tolerance and tenderness, thereby reducing the possibility of adhesion and recurrence. Follow physician instruction for muscular training, within the means.

1. Muscle Stretching Exercise: Maintain activity and increase circulation by covering the thumb with the four fingers, face the wrist downward and slowly exert force until tense. Maintain for 10-20 seconds before relaxing and then take a break. Repeat for 10~20 times and 3 laps a day.

2. Thumb Joint Exercise: Boost joint activity by practicing bending the thumb, stretching and extending, and then recovering. Maintain for 10-20 seconds before relaxing and then take a break. Repeat for 10-20 times and 3 laps a day.

3. Muscle Training: Maintain muscle strength and boost muscle tolerance by covering the rubber band on the finger, pull the rubber band outward until tense. Maintain for 10-20 seconds before relaxing and then take a break. Repeat for 10-20 times and 3 laps a day. Use dumbbell or resilient belt for assistance with muscle strength training.