Trigger finger

Our ligaments and tendon protect and lubricate our finger joints. However if we have excessive or repeated activities of our joints for a prolonged period, the joints will be inflamed. When the fingers are inflamed, thickened tendon will impede tendon activity, and the movement of fingers will be affected. This causes pain and locking of the fingers in a flexed position. When they are forcibly straightened with the other hand they ‘click’ straight again .

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Cause of trigger finger

Long-term repeated action such as typing, using mouse, or even using a smart phone will thickened the tendon of our fingers. Other than that, rheumatoid arthritis and infection also causes a rounded swelling (nodule) to form in the tendon

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Signs / symptoms

Early finger activities will be slow, painful, achy, later this will lead to fingers hardening and cannot fully extended. The symptoms of trigger finger also include a clicking sensation when the finger is bent. Pain usually occurs when the finger or thumb is bent and straightened. Tenderness usually occurs over the area of the nodule, at the bottom of the finger or thumb.