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Trigger Finger Release Physical Therapy in Singapore

9th Jun 2021 | 0 comments

What You Need to Know About Trigger Finger Release Physical Therapy

A trigger finger is a condition that affects one or more of your hand’s tendons, making it difficult for you to bend the affected finger or thumb. When you try to bend or straighten the affected finger, you may experience pain, stiffness, and a locking sensation.

Trigger finger is also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, which occurs when inflammation narrows the space within the sheath that surrounds the tendon in your affected finger. Depending on the severity of your trigger finger, your finger may become locked in a bent position.

That said, if your work or hobby requires repetitive gripping actions, you’re at a higher risk of developing a trigger finger. This condition is also more common among women and people with diabetes.

As with any medical condition, a trigger finger can be treated depending on its severity and duration. Among the treatments available are medications, surgical procedures, and therapy. Let’s discover the physical therapies available to unlock the trigger finger.

Physiotherapy for Trigger Finger

You see, the inflammation that causes your trigger finger can lead to pain, tenderness, and limited mobility. And if left untreated, these symptoms may worsen over time causing you to experience persistent pain and unable to straighten your finger after bending it.

Doctors or orthopaedics will usually recommend performing targeted exercises and stretches to help alleviate the pain and stiffness associated with your trigger finger or thumb. We outline some of the exercises below. 

You can perform these exercises anywhere you like as the only things you’ll need are an elastic band and various small objects like coins, bottle tops, and pens. Try performing these exercises at least 10 to 15 minutes a day. As you get stronger, you can gradually increase the duration, the number of repetitions and sets.

Trigger Finger Release Physical Therapy - Spire Orthopaedic centre
  1. Finger extensor exercise

As the name suggests, this exercise can help to ease symptoms of trigger finger by extending your trigger finger release therapy. Here’s how you do it:

  •  Place your hand on a table or other flat surface, with the palm facing downward.
  •  Gently lift your finger or thumb as far as it will go without cause pain, then lower your finger or thumb back to the table.
  •  Repeat this exercise on all your fingers and do it 10 times on each finger.
  •  Perform this exercise 3 to 4 times a day for the best results.
  1. Ball squeeze exercise

Since a trigger thumb is caused by the inflammation of the thumb’s tendon, this ball squeeze exercise helps to alleviate the symptoms such as stiffness, popping and clicking sensation. Here’s how you do it:

  •  Hold a small ball in your palm and gently apply pressure to the ball with your fingertips to squeeze it.
  •  You can apply more force with your affected thumb as this will help to strengthen the thumb muscle.
  •  Perform this exercise 3 to 4 times a day for the best results.
  1. Resistance exercise

Resistance exercises can help alleviate thumb tendonitis while strengthening your fingers. Here’s how you do it:

  •  Draw the thumb and fingers towards the centre of your hand until the tips of the digits touch.
  •  Place one or more rubber bands around the fingers and thumb.
  •  Gently push the thumb and fingers outwards as though you’re opening your palm.
  •  Repeat the exercise 10 times.
  •  Perform this exercise around 5 times a day for the best results. You can also add more rubber bands to provide extra resistance.
  1. Bent finger exercise

This is a basic exercise that helps to strengthen the tendon in your thumb. Here’s how you do it:

  •  Bend your thumb inward toward your palm until it touches the tips of your index finger.
  •  Hold in position for 10 seconds.
  •  Repeat the exercise on the middle, ring, and little finger.
  •  Perform this exercise 3 to 4 times a day for the best results.
  1. Finger curl exercise

When you perform this exercise, you may find it easier to rest your elbow on a flat surface like your table. You should perform this exercise as follows:

  •  Begin with your palm facing toward your body and clench your hand into a loose fit.
  •  Slowly uncurl your thumb and fingers until they’re all fully extended and hold for 2 seconds.
  • – Curl your fingers and thumb back into a loose fit and repeat this exercise 10 times.

Aside from these exercises, your doctor or orthopaedist may recommend you to practise self-massage to help treat your trigger finger. When you massage the affected finger before and after these exercises, it will help to increase circulation, flexibility, and range of motion. 

You should see improvements within a few weeks to six months of consistent exercise. However, if your symptoms persist or worsen, you should consult your doctor as these exercises may be less effective on you. When that happens, your doctor may recommend surgery. 

At Spire Orthopaedic Centre, everyone should be cared for and healed holistically in comfort without having to travel to different locations to seek medical and surgical help and rehabilitation support.

With a combined facility for collaboration between physicians, physiotherapists, and surgeons, you will experience a seamless service from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation, that’s tailored just for you at our clinic.