Trigger finger is the painful result of a repetitive strain injury to the hand. The fingers in the hand move via tendons that facilitate bending, grasping, and pinching. These tendons move through tunnels, which can become irritated and inflamed with excessive use. When irritated, these tendons swell and the tunnels that facilitate movement grow smaller. This in turn causes pain and catching during finger movements.

In the vast majority of cases, there is no major trauma to the hand that precipitates trigger finger. Rather, patient will notice a gradual building of uncomfortable symptoms. Often, the pain begins in the palm of the hand and radiates out. In addition, there may be swelling and painful lumps in the hand.

These symptoms usually are sufficient for a doctor to diagnose trigger finger. Typically, he or she will take a medical history and will inquire about the environment in which you spend most of your time (e.g., are you at a keyboard all day? Do you operate heavy machinery?). In rare cases, x-rays may be taken, but usually a physical examination of the hand is sufficient to feel the swollen tendons.

There are numerous treatments for trigger finger, including over-the-counter medication and splints. These choices, however, tend to provide only temporary relief and they don't do much to alleviate the painful feeling of having a dislocated finger. Increasingly, doctors and physical therapists are turning to exercises that may help to align the bones, tendons, and ligaments that run through the arm and extend to the hand. Research shows that with proper training, the musculature of the hand can be realigned to treat trigger finger effectively. Contact www.repetitive-strain.com to learn more about how innovative exercise treatments work!